National football coach Istvan Urbanyi has stated that this is the time to regain the respect lost from the national team and Maldivian football through the hard work put on the pitch.
Speaking at the pre-tournament press conference held especially for the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament which begins in Malé tomorrow, Urbanyi said that the painful effects of the suspension of the Maldivian league and tournaments over the past few years have impacted the quality of the players.
He stated that while other countries in this region are developing rapidly, football in the Maldives has moved backward. Urbanyi noted that along with those challenges, they are currently in a rebuilding phase.
"We are trying to win back what has been lost. I always tell the players that they have to earn respect. The national team players must get respect. The Football Association must get respect," Urbanyi spoke.
"But all of us must get respect through the work we do. Not from the words we speak."
According to Urbanyi, the team currently has a mixed squad consisting of very senior players and very young players under 20 years of age. He described this as a great opportunity to move forward.
The coach stated that it is a great satisfaction for him to see the experienced Hamza Mohamed (Hampu) and the 17-year-old young forward Mohamed Eelaan Imran playing together upfront in the first match.
"What makes me happy is that tomorrow, Hamza and Eelaan will play upfront for us. A 17-year-old child and a senior experienced player. We are facing this tournament for that (to give opportunities to the new generation as well). My hope is to field Eelaan for the team," Urbanyi has said.
Urbanyi noted that despite having to bring changes to the team due to injury issues faced by two key defenders of the team, captain Samooh Ali and Mohamed Irfan (Irey), this tournament is a golden opportunity to identify the talent of young players and determine how to take the national team forward.
However, Urbanyi also stated that there is hope that the tournament can be won.
"Can we win? Yes, that opportunity will be there. That is why we have come and are staying here. But if we look at the real statistics, this is a different story," Urbanyi said.
In the first match of this tournament, the Maldives will come out against Afghanistan. Speaking about that match, Urbanyi said that this is a match of a completely different level. He noted that Afghanistan is a strong team consisting of players who play in various European divisions and countries like Australia.
