Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Male: Victory Sports Club coach Ali Suzain has called on the Maldives’ football community to fully support his team in Saturday’s AFC Cup play-off against Yemen’s Al Tilal at the National Stadium.
The two teams meet with a place in Group E of the continental club tournament at stake – where the winner will meet Syria’s Al Shorta, Al Safa of Lebanon and Iraqi side Al Zawra’a - in the first-ever play-off in the competition’s history.
“Victory Sports Club is fully prepared to face Yemen’s Al Tilal in this historic match for both clubs,” said Suzain.
“It’s the first time a play-off is being played for the AFC Cup and we are on one side.
“I urge the supporters that this is not just a club match. We need to build the Maldivian clubs as it decides our standing in the AFC Cup in future.
“Currently we have two places in AFC Cup, one automatic qualification and one play-off. If we improve our performance, we could get more automatic qualification spots.”
Al Tilal have had a disappointing start to the current league season in Yemen and have yet to win in seven league games after losing their most recent game 4-0 to Najm Sba last Friday.
The Yemenis were originally scheduled to host the meeting between the two clubs, but the current security situation in the country saw the venue moved to the Maldives.
“The change in venue will have an impact. It’s always better to play in front of your own supporters and obviously it will be different without them,” said coach Nooradin Mohammed Abdulghani, who has a full strength side at his disposal.
“The players are well prepared for the game and the fact that the weather in the Maldives is almost the same as Aden. I don’t think they will have any problems playing the game.”