Unbeaten Lankans ready for Maldivian attack

7th SAFF Championship 2008:

Bernard Perera

Sri Lankan soccerites who maintained an unbeaten record in Group 'B' of the seventh SAFF championship encounters Maldives in the semi-final today at the Sugathadasa stadium at 7.30 p.m. under lights.

Maldives the hosts of Group 'A' made their way to the semis after beating Nepal and Pakistan in Group 'A' in Male, Maldives, while losing the third game to the defending champs India.

Sri Lanka has a slight advantage as they play on their home soil and also with the weather keeping fine they are confident of making a match of it.

The Lankan coach Jang Jung speaking at a press briefing yesterday at the Football House did not want to leak out the tactics in front of the mediamen. But said that the boys have done well in the last three games to stay unbeaten upto now.

When asked whether any changes would be made for today's game he said that team selection will be made only before the game. He further added that he was happy to note that the team is physically fit as there were no injuries sustained during the past few days. "I expect all players to give their best in today's game, this is a vital game for us". Maldives is a strong outfit, we have to work hard, said the coach.

Maldives have a better record playing against Sri Lanka they have beaten the local team twice in this tourney.

Maldivian Manager Mohamed Hanim speaking said that he has a very strong outfit with him our boys put up a gallant show against the strong Indians in the last game. We managed to contain them to a single goal. India played minus five of their experienced players, giving an opportunity for their young player to get a break. They too performed an excellent job for the country. The new caps too are a set that can replace the seniors in the future.

I am confident of my boys they have given 100 per cent to the team. With their top class performance I am sure that my team can go for a win, but this is football anything can happen, said Hanim.

Hanim also praised the Football Federation of Sri Lanka for cordial hospitality extended to them arrival. He said that full credit should go to FFSL and its officials for co-hosting the championship on a grand scale. He also paid a tribute to Maldivian FA and the spectators for their fullest support extended during the past few days in Male which was a morale booster for the team.

Tom Wheeler the representative from the World Sport Group the main sponsor for the championship addressing the media said that FFSL and Maldivian Football Association have done well to co-host the tourney in an excellent manner.

Our sponsorship has paid dividends not only to WSG but also to the whole of South Asia and mainly football at large. I have seen a heavy improvement in soccer in South Asian region. I hope this will move further to reach the Asian level, and added that WSG will continue to support South Asian Football in the future too.

Looking at the two teams it can be said both teams are evenly balanced. The side that go ahead in the early stage would gain the advantage.

For Lankans, the strikers should think well to put the side in front they should also combine well to achieve early advantage. When the strikers are fed by the mid-fielders they should grab the opportunity and try to score as early as possible to avoid more pressure being added by their opponents.

Specially the two main strikers of the Lankan team Kasun Jayasuriya and E.B. Channa who failed to deliver the much needed goals in the previous games should take great care when shooting at the net. Their failure to do so could pose a big threat in the latter part of the game. Two of them along with skipper Chathura Maduranga hold the key for Lanka's victory.

According to Mohamed Hanim their Slovakian coach Joseph Janheck is capable of giving the finer points to players at the last minute. The manager and the coach depend heavily on their two experienced players Ali Ashfaz and Ibrahim Fazeel to deliver the goods for Maldives.

Two of them are professionals who have lot of international exposure. They have co-ordinate well with others to bring good results for the visitors.

It was also disclosed that around 4,000 football crazy fans from Maldives expected to arrive today to support their soccerites. They are hopeful the it will be a morale booster for the team.

The Lankans fans witnessed three good games during the past week. Day by day, the players have improved and will definitely do a better job today to put Sri Lanka in the final. So it is the duty of the soccer fans in an around Colombo to enter the stadium to boost the Lankans morale.