Former famed defender Sobah Mohamed Ibrahim (Soba) has been appointed the Assistant Coach of the national football team.
Sobah, who used to be coached by national team Head Coach István Urbányi, will serve as his right hand for the three national friendlies and SAFF Championship during the upcoming international window.
Sobah played for the national team for 13 years and played a significant defensive role in the team during Urbányi's first year coaching Maldives.
During last night's pre-match press conference in preparation for the friendly matches against China, Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon, Urbányi said he requested the President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) to arrange for a player he used to coach as an Assistant Coach.
According to Urbányi, the main reason he took on Sobah as an assistant is because he is someone who will question and challenge the coach.
Urbányi stated that he has come to see a different side to Sobah in the three to four hours they have been holding discussions after they started working together.
"He continues to ask questions. He will ask questions in a way where it tests me. He will ask 'Okay, why do you think that?'," said Urbányi when talking about Sobah.
"This is how it should be. I want to face challenges. And Sobah is someone who continues to challenge me."
Urbányi encourages team players to question him and find out the reason for his process, just as Sobah does.
Urbányi went on to say that when he tells the players to do something, the players should ask him why they are doing it. The coach also said he has reminded the players previously that if he cannot answer the players' question, they do not have to do as he asked.
"I encourage the players to question and challenge me. 'Coach, why does it have to be done like that? How would you like me to answer that?' I told the players that if I cannot answer those questions, they should not do what I asked," Urbányi said.
"I want to see these young players in that light. I want to see inexperienced players get better and grow."
Previously, Sobah was working as the Head Coach for the national women's football team. Urbányi acknowledged the efforts of the team in the SAFF Women's Championship.
