SAFF C’ship: Maldives lose games, win admiration and respect

Margao: Maldives arrived in Goa without their main goalkeeper and inexperienced players, more comfortable on a futsal court than the football field. It didn’t help that half the team missed their connecting flight and were stranded in Mumbai for several hours.
They checked into the team hotel only on the morning of the opener against India.
Maldives are the first team to get knocked out of the SAFF Women’s Championship in Goa. But even though they return home without a point, the lowest-ranked side in South Asia conquered plenty of hearts with a braveheart show against defending champions Bangladesh.
“We didn’t have enough time for recovery after the loss against India, but I am incredibly proud of the girls, they gave everything,” coach Sabah Mohamed Ibrahim said after the 4-2 loss against Bangladesh at Fatorda on Thursday. “The focus was on maintaining discipline and shape. I told the girls not to worry about the score; if they score one, try and stop the second. If they score another one, stop the third.”
Maldives conceded 25 goals in two games during the last edition two years ago. Jaded, they conceded 11 in the opener against India earlier this week. So, when Bangladesh scored the first goal inside just 14 seconds and continued to attack, everyone feared another hammering for a side ranked 167th in the world.
Instead, at the hour mark, the teams were locked 2-2, and Maldives were only undone by an unfortunate late goalkeeping error. A tired added-time goal saved two-time champions Bangladesh major embarrassment.
“Compared to India and Bangladesh, we are not professionals. We don't even have a professional league. The girls come from futsal. When this tournament is hosted, we just come and participate,” said Ibrahim.
A former SAFF champion as player with Maldives in 2008, Ibrahim was coaching the under-17 team when he was asked to take charge of the seniors. There wasn’t much time on hand for preparations; they had no experience too, but the 2-4 loss against Bangladesh showed they can punch above their weight, if they play more than the two games they played last year.
“The girls need to play more friendlies, make mistakes, and learn,” said Ibrahim.