Umair finding his true calling

Goodness me: I should have listened to my inner voice...who told me I would be better at being a defender

Does he know where his best position is? Right now Victory management and fans don’t need to know as he is delivering when his team needs him. What more he is the top-scorer in the league. That is Umair for you. Originally a defender, he is currently the most dangerous striker in the country.  If you see the kind of goals he has scored you could well say he has all the attributes to be a great striker.  9 goals in 8 matches is no mean effort by any standard. 

Blessed with lethal right foot, his accuracy in shooting and dead-ball situation is second to none. Why on earth he has been playing for a defender all these years? Who had been giving him false advice? 

So how did he land up there in such an advance position in the first place? Well, he is not really playing as a forward but an attacking midfielder when not a left winger. Blossoming under the watchful of eyes of young coach Nazeeh ( head coach’s young brother), some people may be quick to point it as freakish accident rather than a more remarkable revelation of a player’s real position on the pitch. The truth of matter is a forward is as good as when he is delivering. If not he is worse than deadwood. 

Right now he is not deadwood. He is better than more celebrated strikers like Oppo or Ashfaq. If he continues in this fashion he will be first defender in Maldives who won golden boot for best forward in the country. In volley ball metaphor it is akin to a setter becoming the best spiker.

Referee's mistake Reds bad-luck

Season opening clash of two heavyweights in the Charity Shield was an ideal platform for VB and Victory to showcase their newly-acquired talents. But it was newly drafted in referee Aslam who stole the limelight by committing the blunder of blunders in what looks to be not the last of such bad officiating. He mistook a chest control by Victory defender Shafiu for a handball in Victory penalty area and handed VB a perfect opportunity to play spoilsport. Abu made no mistake from the spot to level the match for VB already trailing by a goal.  The added insult to injury was straight red-card to the poor lad. A man down, morale down, it was the worst recipe for Victory to begin a season and not the best omen for what was to come from the referees. As expected VB went an all-out assault on Victory in the extra period of 30 minutes. In the end the numerical disadvantage was too much for Reds to do much against Ashfag-inspired VB. Final score: VB win by 4-1.

 

Reds still in the slim hope

New Radiant’s recent endeavor to strengthen the team with the acquisition of two Bulgarians could not be much of a help when Victory came firing all cylinders.  More so with the usually reliable Oppo in the fray like a fox in the box the least you could do is let a loose ball within his sight and you know the result. He made meal out of the opportunity and scored his 16th goal of the season.

New Radiant may have got numerous chances begging for them but what of the use when players of Tom’s reputation fluff penalty cheaply.

In the end it was again Suzain’s day as they claimed an importantly victory to consolidate their position in the second place and condemn the Blues to struggle for the third spot. Can they do it?

For Victory they have to wait for what happen tonight? If VB lose their game against Maziya there is the slim hope for rejoice till the next match day.

Dhivehi League preponed

The latest move by FAM to pre-pone Dhivehi League will be some consolation as far as time is concerned. As time (rather the lack of it) more often than not has been blamed for Maldives’ preparation at overseas tournament.

As of now day and night matches will be played from the 16th of this month till 25th. Bereft of any real excitement over the long-drawn tournament this will in part further stretch interest of limited supporters.

But then it is U23 which takes precedence and all the help that is needed is a prerogative of parent body, FAM. Thus to pre-pone the remaining three matches for each team runs in good stead.

Victory in relentless mood

Victory’s belated endeavor to make amends for earlier profligacy seems little too late. But then this precious three points against wasteful Vyansa is important in the fact that it keep them in the hunt for now.

As it is for Oppo. With his brace he is still in contention for leading goal scorer award except that he is just two goals behind leading goals scorer Ashfag. Though, his best years behind him, he is scoring important goals at important juncture for his team. One would wish Oppo's inspiration should have permeated to all in red at the beginning of the season when they lost valuable points to mediocre teams.

Now it is all a waiting game. Perhaps in the coming week we would get the answer. 

  
    

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.

Victory keep the pressure on

Yet another glorious day for Victory and Oppo. Precious three points and now only five points behind VB sports, Victory’s dateline with second place, if not the first yet, is very much on course. For Oppo, his two goals took him within one goal of leading scorer Ashfag who is on 14. It doesn’t however mean Victory cannot win the league but for that to happen VB Sports have to err big time.