Bengaluru (June 20) - Despite not playing a single friendly match during the preparations, Maldives national team head coach Francisco Moriero believes his team is well prepared for the SAFF Championship tournament.
South Asia’s regional showpiece will kick off tomorrow in Bengaluru, India. Two-time champions Maldives is placed in group B alongside Bhutan, Bangladesh and Lebanon.
Maldives completed a 10-day training camp in Japan to prepare for the tournament but did not play a single game.
However, Moriero stated today at a press conference that the Maldives had a good training camp in Japan and that the team is well prepared for the tournament.
However, during a press briefing held today Moriero said that the Maldives had a good training camp in Japan and the team is well prepared for the tournament.
“Maldives is ready. (We spent) 10 days in Japan. My team is ready for the tournament,” the Italian said. “I spoke before very important; every team wants to win this competition. We need experience and we will progress with that.”
Moriero, 54, anticipates a highly competitive tournament that will provide valuable experience for the squad's young players.
“I don’t like to speak (much). I like to work. All teams want to win the competition but only one will win. My team is very strong. I am from Italy. My mentality is different from Maldives, but my players are learning this mentality,” the former Inter Milan player said.
Maldives will play their first game of the tournament against Bhutan on Thursday.
