Are some promises made to be broken?

It was back to back morale-sapping defeats by teams who are clearly underdogs to Valencia that galvanized coach Iqbal  to launch into a fans’ anger-quelling mission by saying during transfer window they would strengthen their squad. 

In about 12 days’ time we say bye-bye to the transfer deadline and resume Dhivehi league. Whatever Iqbal has said is yet to take wings. Of course a long way to go before the final day of transfer, but one cannot help but wonder why on earth they must make a bold statement and keep a low profile. They really gave the impression they were diving into transfer-pool the next day. 

Perhaps it was a gimmick, a ploy by coach to pacify angry supporters who had to bear with the distressing scene of their team threshed by all and sundry. 

No surprise if they don't open their purse for shopping given how most of our clubs survive on shoestring budget for the whole season.But the fear is what if..what if they don't get a forward, a lethal one at that, to find them goals and plenty of it. Because they need it, badly. Their position in the table is precarious.

If they start to falter in the coming matches it may not be long before the stark reality of relegation stare right into the face and dump you into a division that is not worthy of your illustrious name.

Valencia living dangerously

It is that period of the season and everybody is saying exactly the same thing. Come the mid-season break, or transfer period, or Euro fun break - which ever name you like to call - that it will be more than a welcome break to strengthen their squad.

More vociferous has been Valencia after two consecutive morale-sapping defeat to underdogs Vyansa and AYL respectively. Though this is something Valencia of late has been producing throughout the last few seasons the manner of defeats have left coach Iqbal under a huge pressure. 

No wonder, for Valencia with a glorious history in terms of how they ruled the roost in national championship in the late 90s and early 2000s, this is like ego-shattering slap on the face, not less than misery of highest order. Iqbal will be forced to do some math if they continue in this fashion for the reminder of the season. Because it may well be the start of a free fall. The imminent fear of relegation threat is already looming. He would not want to tarnish the CV of  his stint as a coach in first division before it had really started.

So he is already talking about strengthening the squad during the break. Whether he will get the kind of players he wants or the African players flocking the Maldivian shore will be good enough only time will tell. Being a keeper he know a good keeper and defense will not be enough when there is no good striker to compliment the outcome.

Can former national team goal-keeping coach be a successful coach as well? We will wait and see….

VB brush aside Valencia

If Valencia had any thought of claiming a spot in the fourth place in the league it has now well been dashed for good. Needing a win to make any bold claim and yet having to wait what other teams’ fortune pan out in the reminder of matches, the first nail in the Valencia coffin was hammered in 12th minute with Ali Umar’s penalty. Oittey doubled the lead in the 28th minute.

Valencia had a lifeline in the 34 minute when Bonda’s superb header found the back of the net. Yet depleted by the absence of first team regulars including star player Assad the onslaught from VB was too much to handle. The pressure become telling when half-time substitute for VB are player of Ashfag’s calibre. He sealed the win for VB sports in the 60th and 93rd minute to protect what is turning out to be a huge lead. Well, notwithstanding even if the nearest rivals Victory win their next match. VB is simply too good.