Gela out, Tajikistan appoints coach ahead of Maldives game

Tajikistan National Football team coach Gela Shekiladze has lost his chance to play against Maldives.

Former Maldives National Football team Assistant Coach Gela worked as the Tajikistan National Football team's Head Coach. The Georgian-Belgian coach was an assistant to former Maldives national team coach Petar Segrt for a time.

Gela has also contributed to Maldives during the 2018 SAFF Championship in Bangladesh.

When Segrt took over as the Head Coach for Tajikistan in January 2022, Gela worked under him as Assistant Coach. Segrt brought Tajikistan to the quarter finals of last year's Asian Cup in Qatar under his leadership. His contract ended after the Asian Cup, with Tajikistan's Football Association (FA) appointing Gela as Head Coach.

Gela was relieved from his position due to the defeat Tajikistan suffered during last month's CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

Under Gela's leadership, Tajikistan won one game and drew in the other during the Asian Cup's qualifying games. The Philippines was in first place with a goal advantage, but had the same points as Tajikistan.

The Tajikistan Football Federation has appointed Serbian Goran Stevanović as their national football team coach ahead of their game against Maldives. The game will be held on Tajikistan's home turf.

Stevanović has also served as Head Coach for Ghana's national football team. He has been hired to be Head Coach for Tajikistan until March next year. The qualifying rounds for the Asian Cup will end in March as well. The Tajikistan FA has said that he has the chance to be kept on for an additional year as part of the agreement.

The second leg of the Maldives-Tajikistan games will take place on 14th October at Male'. The Maldives National Football team has already begun their practice ahead of the game.