Supporters give memorable reception to national team

Male', MALDIVES - The jubilant supporters of Maldives handed their heroic national team the perfect reception on their return after winning SAFF championship in Colombo.

Maldives beat defending champions India 1-0 in the final, thanks to Mukhthar Naseer’s 87th minute long range strike.Maldives national team arrived on a chartered Island Aviation flight and the president himself was in the airport to greet the team.

President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom handed a cash prize to every member of the national team during their stay in the VIP lounge. After the reception in the VIP lounge, members of the national team then headed to the capital Male’ on a specially decorated Dhoni.

President himself travelled with the team on the Dhoni to Male’ where they were welcomed by thousands of supporters in the republican square.From the republican square, the team then rode across the capital on a lorry and thousands of supporters followed them to the national stadium.

At the national stadium more than 15000 supporters cheered the historical team and the supporters were given the opportunity to take photographs with the trophy.At the end of the ceremony, each player and official left the stadium in a separate car printed their jersey number and name on it.At the VIP lounge, president Maumoon said every member of the national team is a national hero and added it is unity that can keep the trophy in Maldives again.

He also stated that every citizen of the nation will get the opportunity to touch the trophy as it will be taken to all inhabited islands.

I can’t express my feelings says heroic Mukhthaar

Colombo, MALDIVES - Mukhthaar Naseer, who scored the decisive goal against India last night, was jubilant after the win and said this is the happiest moment of his life.

“I don’t know how to express my feelings. This is the happiest moment of my life” He said to maldivesoccer.com at Maldives’ team’s dressing room after the final match.

Mukhthaar, an important player in Valencia’s squad, had a superb season last year claiming the best player award of Cup Winners Cup and included among the top five players of the season. That were the main reasons for his inclusion in the national squad and he proved his worthiness.

Mukhthaar further added that he had given decisive assists in local tournaments to score the winning goals in finals and semi finals but the feeling he had after scoring the winning goal against India was completely different.

In an interview given to Television Maldives after the final match, He said: “Before the game starts, I though myself how nice it would be if I score the winning goal”

Messages of praise from every corner of the country is now addressing to the national team, especially Mukhthaar for his wonderful goal.
Maldives beat India 1-0 to become the regional champions for the first time. Maldives duo Ali Ashfaag and Ibrahim Fazeel were named as best player of the tournament and top scorer respectively.

maldivesoccer.com

India 0 - 1 Maldives: New champions

Colombo, SRI LANKA - Maldives crowned the champions of South Asia after a thrilling 1-0 win over India in the final played in Sugathadhasa Stadium tonight.

Mukhthar Naseer was the hero of the match scoring the historical goal in the 87th minute from a long range shot.First half was equally balanced where both Maldives and India had their opportunities to get opener but neither team found the target

.Ali Ashfaag was unstoppable in the half and suffered a serious injury when Indian defender Anwar brought him down inside India half. Anwar was booked for the foul and Indian defence cleared Maldives free kick.Maldivian defenders played well holding the speedy strikers of India, but the nervous men in red had poor miss passes but there was always another to recover it.Maldives best opportunity in the first half fell into Ahmed Thoriq when the ace striker, who missed the semi final through injury, headed the ball but was only on target to the vertical bar.It was totally a different Maldivian side in the second half, where they were on full attack and kept the Indian side under constant bombardments.

Maldives keeper Imran had few moments to show his capabilities but on the other side Indian keeper had no time to breath as Ashfaag, Ismail Mohamed, Mukhthar Naseer, Ahmed Thoriq and Ibrahim Fazeel’s deadly attacks were too much for themMaldives kept knocking on Indian door and an hour mark Ashfaag’s powerful shot went across the face of the goal.Few minutes later another powerful shot from skipper Assad went across the goal.But just three minute before full time, Mukhthar Naseer fired a thunderbolt outside Indian penalty area and Indian keeper had no time to save the ball which glued on the net.

A nation was on their feet and the nearly five thousands Maldivian supporters in Sugathadhasa stadium rocked the atmosphere.Even in the dying minutes of the second half Maldives had chances to increase the lead, but who cares? A win is a win and Assad and Co showed a performance that deserves to bring an end to a dream that lasted 17 long years.

Ali Ashfaag was named as the man of the tournament and Ibrahim Fazeel, who scored three goals, named top scorer.

maldivesoccer.com

Maldives National Football Team for their dramatic win of the SAAF Championship 2008 by Beating India 1-0

Today is a great day for the people of Maldives.

For the first time our national team has written history by becoming the Champions of the SAAF Football Championship. The Maldives National Team beat India 1-0 to become the proud champions of SAAF foot ball Championship.

Mukhtar Naseer’s goal toward the end in the 87th minute was the only goal of the match as Maldives beat India 1-0 winning their first ever SAFF Championship title in Colombo. Maldives had previously finished as runners-up twice but never won. Maldivian across the world is elated and celebrating this grand victory.

Our football players have accomplished a mission worth millions for our nation and they should indeed be hailed as national heroes.

Dhimaku congratulates the Maldives national team and all Maldivian on this historic day. yesterday night our country is crammed with heroes comprising of each and every member of our football team and of those that have helped them to achieve that we have been reaching for, for a long time . Fans are flocking to the streets of Maldives and celebrating the success wearing red, the colour that that represented our team in the final match.

The golden goal scored by Mukuthaar Naseer was a great performance for a first timer in the national team. The best player was also from the Maldives team Ali Ashfag. One Maldivian described it as, “ a dream come true”. While Male’ is the epitome of all the celebrations, the people of each and every atoll of Maldives alike is celebrating. What a great end to a lot of anticipations, highs and lows. Pure glory worth smiling for all the Maldivian alike.

The president of Maldives His Excellency Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who flew to Sri Lanka to support the National Team has declared Sunday June 14th a National Holiday in order to mark and celebrate this spectacular win.

Around five thousand Maldivian fans flew to Sri Lanka to see the match and supported the Maldives team all the way. Once again MISDD congratulates our team members, brothers and sisters and our motherland, Maldives a nation that will not sleep yester day night.