New National Team coach Mohamed Shiyaz aims for victory despite challenges

Newly appointed national football team coach Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan) has expressed confidence in leading the Maldives to victory against Sri Lanka, despite the many challenges facing local football today.

Mohan officially took charge last week and led his first training session yesterday. His first test as head coach will be two back-to-back matches against Sri Lanka as part of the upcoming South Asian Super Cup.

Speaking in his first interview since taking the role, the experienced coach acknowledged the uphill battle ahead, noting the difficulties of building a competitive team after several years without a proper football season.

“Everyone knows the current state of football in the Maldives. The players haven’t had a proper season in a long time,” he said.

However, Mohan found some encouragement in the fact that many clubs have recently resumed training ahead of the new season, which is set to begin in September.

“It’s slowly getting better,” he said. “But it will take time.”

Despite the limited preparation time, Mohan remains optimistic. With just under a week before the first match, he’s focused on making the most of what’s available.

“Regardless of the difficulties, our goal is to win both matches, Allah willing. That’s what we’re preparing for,” said Mohan, who previously served as the assistant coach of the national team.

The Maldives will face Sri Lanka in their first match this Saturday, with the second game scheduled for September. Both fixtures will be held at the Racecourse Stadium in Colombo, the same venue where the two sides last met in December during the Rajapaksa Invitational Tournament.

In that match, under former coach Francesco Moriero, the Maldives let a four-goal lead slip, resulting in a draw.

This time, with renewed energy and a new leader at the helm, Mohan hopes the team can deliver a stronger performance, and secure a morale boosting win.