Maldives National team has started training today. 29 players attended today's session including the 2 goalkeepers who were added earlier today. Coach Darren Stewart was assisted by former Maziya Coach Ismail Mahfooz (Imma) and newly appointed goalkeeper coach Aslam Abdul Raheem who had worked with the national team before resigning in 2015.

Maldives will play Palestine on the 28th of March in Galolhu National Stadium.

Speaking to the press coach Stewart has said that Palestine will not be an easy game. The coach admitted that the team will miss Ali Ashfaq (Dhagandey) and Imran Mohamed, but he dismissed any excuses saying that the other players have to step up. Stewart has said that he respects the decision of Imran Mohamed, who retired few months back from International football, calling him and Dhagandey ambassador's of Maldivian Football.

"as i said before training and as i said just now: if these boys has the work ethic, the team spirit and the desire to play for this, the country, we will be very hard to beat"

 

Darren Stewart has pointed out that a lot of Palestine players play in Europe and they are a good side. He also pointed out that it is a must win game and that he is hopeful of a win.

Coach Stewart also has praised the supporters, the 12th player. and has called for the fans to give full support saying that it has inspired him and that he could imagine what it would do for the players.

Amdhan Ali, Ahmed Imaaz, Asadhulla Abdulla, Ashadhi Ali, Mohamed Umair, Yasfadh Habeeb, Gasim Samaam, Samooh Ali, Hussain Niyaz Mohamed, Mohamed Azzam, Hassan Naiz, Ibrahim Waheed Hassan, Ibrahim Mahudhee, Shafiu Ahmed, Mohamed Faisal, Hisam Saleem, Imran Nasheed, Ahmed Zaadh, Riham Abdul Ghanee, Mohamed Imran, Ismail Easa, Hamza Mohamed, Mohamed Rasheed, Ali Fasir, Ahmed Abdulla, Mohamed Saaif, Ahmed Nizam, Hassan Tholal and Mohamed Shaafiu are the 29 players that took part in preliminary squad practice today. One notable absentee in today's training was Ali Ashfaq who didn't make the squad due to injury.