Maldives national football team coach Drago Mamic has insisted his team can still reach the knockout phase of the AFC Challenge cup after “cheap” goals cost them three points in yesterday’s tournament opener.
“I am very sorry that we concede very cheap goals and that’s why I told you before that one skillful player can change the score and I still believe that we can qualify for the semi-final,” Mamic told maldivesoccer.com.
Myanmar striker Kyaw Ko Ko scored twice as the Maldives lost 3-2 despite dominating much of the game before a capacity crowd at Malé’s Galolhu Stadium.
Despite going down to ten men after just 22 minutes, the tournament’s lowest ranked side were two goals up by half-time. Number 10, Kyaw, was not tracked in the 39th minute, neatly latching onto a through-ball to give his team the lead.
Kyaw was again involved in the second goal, exchanging a one-two before setting up Nyein Chan Aung for a simple finish.
After pulling a goal back ten minutes after the re-start, the Maldives hopes of salvaging a point were ended as an unmarked Kyaw struck again in added time. The Maldives’ captain and talisman Ali Ashfaq immediately replied with what was no more than a consolation goal.
Mamic said that his players may have relaxed following the sending off, suggesting that his instructions to closely mark the dangerous Kyaw were not followed.
When asked about the absence of playmaker Mohamed Arif from the staring eleven, Mamic said that the midfielder had been unable to train in the run-up to the tournament and so was not considered fully fit.
The Family Court has slammed a corruption investigator who was denied entry to the court on May 15 for disrespectful behavior, local media have reported.
In a letter to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), the Family Court said the actions of the commission’s investigators were “not that expected in a court of law” and denounced false media reports that the court had verbally abused and thrown out the investigators.
ACC President Hassan Luthfy told local media last week he was saddened by the court’s refusal to provide information and had denied two investigators entry and access to information despite warrants by the commission.
The court further said it has provided the requested information previously and would hand over the information again if a “clear” request was made.
Castaway Maldives Pvt Ltd has lodged a complaint at the Civil Court over the Police Welfare Corporation’s decision to annul a resort development bid.
The company won a bid to develop a resort on an island owned by the Police Welfare Corporation on November 14, 2013. However, before a sub-lease agreement could be signed, the police unilaterally annulled the bid on May 14.
The company, in a complaint filed yesterday, asked the Civil Court to issue an injunction preventing the corporation from proceeding with new plans for Lhaviyani atoll Maabinhuraa Island.
The tourism company has also asked the court to order the police to sign a sub-lease agreement with the company.
Castaway Maldives said the police had justified its decision, citing delays to signing the sub-lease agreement. But the company claimed it was the police’s failure to complete negotiations over the agreement that had delayed the process.
A police media official today refused to comment on the matter.
President Abdulla Yameen has filled the posts of Maldivian High Commissioner in both Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The president appointed Zahiya Zareer of Galolhu Zafna to the post of High Commissioner to Sri Lanka while Major General (Retired) Moosa Ali Jaleel was appointed to the vacant post in Pakistan.
Zahiya Zareer served as education minister during former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration.
Major General (Retired) Moosa Ali Jaleel acted as chief of the defence force during the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has ordered the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to exclude Transport Authority Director General Sami Ageel from reviewing bids related to any offices under the jurisdiction of the civil service.
Local media reports that the ACC sent this order on May 7, following which the commission has notified the Transport Ministry. Sami has been alleged to be involved in a number of corruption cases.
While refraining to provide additional information, ACC President Hassan Luthfy told local media that the order was sent in relation to a case currently under investigation.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said the criminal justice system in the Maldives has stopped delivering justice, expressing concern over the “awe-inspiring things” that are happening to cases involving Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed
In a statement issued today, the party said that investigators and the court are acting in a bizarre way when dealing with the accusations concerning Judge Hameed being blackmailed, and engaging in sexual misconduct with prostitutes.
The MDP highlighted the fact that the police have suspended investigations in to Hameed’s sexual misconduct, his potential blackmail and his suspected sex videos, and that Judicial Service Commission had stopped pursuing all cases against the judge.
It was also noted that the criminal corruption case against him is on hold after a coffee spill over the case documents.
The statement said that these incidents of failing to investigate or prosecute Judge Hameed were a clear indication of the status of the Maldives’ criminal justice system.
“Such a judge sitting on the supreme court bench is not recognised by any judicial or legal system in the world. And surely it is the general public who are facing injustice because of this,” MDP has said.
Images and symbols depicting scenes from the sex-tape formed a prominent part of protests against the court’s repeated interference in the presidential election of 2013, serving to further undermine the court’s public credibility.
In the statement the party accused the President Abdulla Yameen’s government of desiring to keep a “blackmailed judge” on the Supreme Court bench as a tool to legitimise coup d’etats, unlawful activity carried out by the government and to cancel legitimate elections.
Haa Alif atoll Ihavandhoo Island Council has called for a communal prayer on Friday morning to pray for relief from drought.
Council President Mohamed Asif told Minivan News that islanders have run out of drinking water and are now relying on store bought desalinated water.
“It hasn’t rained on Ihavandhoo for about a year. Even during the recent rains, Ihavandhoo did not receive the blessing of rain,” he said.
The ‘Isthisqa’ prayer is to be held at the island’s football field.
According to Asif, the island’s groundwater is no longer potable due to the intrusion of saltwater and runoff from sewage.
Ihavandhoo, an island of 3000 people in the country’s northernmost atoll, has reported water shortages every dry season in recent years. Each household has a 2,500 liter tank for rainwater harvesting, but the tanks have run dry due to the prolonged dry season.
Fathimath Zahira, 46, said her three-person household ran out of water last week. She spends approximately MVR60 (US$ 4) on buying water from the store every day.
“God willing, I will go to the prayers,” she said.
Assistant Director at the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Afsal Hussein, said water shortages are linked to climate change.
“Changes to global climate are causing shorter wet seasons and prolonging dry seasons,” he said.
The National Disaster Management Center has already transported 100 tonnes of water to the island in recent months. A new shipment is expected to arrive this week.
Water shortages are a recurring problem on several islands and the ministry is now working on a sustainable solution to the problem, Afsal said.
“Right to safe water is guaranteed by the constitution. The main concept we are using is called integrated water management which means managing all available sources of water – ground water, rain water and desalinated water – to solve water shortages,” he said.
Integrated water management includes recharging groundwater aquifers, increasing rainwater harvests and establishing desalination plants.
Ihavandhoo is one of the three islands were an integrated water management project is ongoing. Councillor Asif said the project will be completed at the end of the year and will provide relief from.
A pioneering project to desalinate water using excess heat from electricity generation was launched in Gulhi, Kaafu atoll, in February. The project, with the potential to produce 8000 litres of clean water per day, will be used in other islands should it prove successful in Gulhi.
Meanwhile, several islands in the Maldives have reported “black rain” showers in the Maldives.
The Public Health Unit (PHU) in early May warned Baa atoll Eydhafushi Island residents against drinking or cooking with black rain.
Similar incidents of black colored rain were reported in 2013 Haa Dhaal Atoll Nolhivaram Island and Haa Dhaal Atoll Kurimbi Island, and in Dhaalu atoll Meedhoo Island.
However, little seems to be known about the health implications of this occurrence. Islanders have speculated that the phenomenon maybe acid rain.
“I think one small country in football taking on something like the Challenge Cup is something very remarkable.”
Speaking ahead of the Maldives opening Group A with tournament outsiders Myanmar this evening, Assistant Secretary General of the Football Association of Maldives Mohamed Nasir pointed out the logistical novelty of an international football tournament in Asia’s smallest country.
“I’m not sure there’s another tournament where land, sea, and air transport is involved in day to day player movements.”
Games will take place in both the capital Malé and the country’s second city Addu, with players from the eight competing teams staying in Bandos and Herathera resorts.
The biggest football tournament to have previously taken place in the country was the 2008 South Asian Football Federation championship – held jointly with Sri Lanka – which the Maldives won, beating regional heavyweights India in the final.
The National Stadium in Malé will host Group A’s games, featuring tonight’s teams as well as Palestine, and Kyrgyzstan – who played this afternoon, Palestine taking a one-nil victory.
Photo by: Ali Arif
The renovated – and renamed – Addu Football Stadium in Hithadhoo will host Turkmenistan, Laos, the Philippines, and Afghanistan in Group B, with the first game tomorrow at 4pm.
As AFC Cup fever grips the country, President Abdulla Yameen has already pledged MVR1 million to the national team should they reach the semi-finals.
Nasir, however, argued that a far more precious reward was on offer should the Maldives win the biennial tournament, with automatic qualification for the 2015 Asian Cup for team left holding the trophy on May 30.
“I think this is one the best things the FA has done to take us to the next level, as we are one step closer to the biggest tournament in Asia and we are pretty optimistic that we have a good chance to qualify,” said Nasir.
Part of the Asian Football Confederation’s ‘Vision Asia’ programme, the AFC Challenge Cup was introduced in 2006 with the aim of providing competition experience to the continent’s smaller footballing nations.
The four previous tournaments were won by Tajikstan, then India, before North Korea won both the 2010 and 2012 editions. The Maldives appeared in the latter tournament, going out at the group stage after defeats to both Turkmenistan and Palestine.
While Afghanistan go into the tournament as the highest ranked team, local media has this afternoon reported that many locals will be throwing their support behind Palestine.
The Maldives Palestine Brotherhood Association told Sun Online today that, while wanting the Maldives to win, it would be supporting Group A rivals today in a show of support for the Palestinian people.
With high demand leading to the black market trading of tickets, police have today warned action will be taken against touts operating in the vicinity of the stadiums during the tournament.
The police also advised everyone to refrain from racist or defamatory remarks towards players or officials during the cup.
“If such a matter is brought to the attention of the police, we will take necessary action against it. Spectators attending to watch the match are also advised to conduct acts of support within the spirits of the sport,” read a police statement today.
Minister of Tourism Mohamed Maleeh Jamal echoed the police’s comments while unveiling the competition’s offici
al mascots – twodolphins whose tour of the city this afternoon was accompanied by the AFC Cup song,
President Yameen has previously expressed his hope that the tournament will unite those in the country divided by politics, asking all citizens to proudly wear the national team jersey.
“I hope all Maldives is in red colours this evening,” said Nasir. Tonight’s game kicks off at 9pm.
(0)Dislikes
(0)
