Gaddhoo Coach Nazeeh Flags Budget Gap and Defender Shortage in Dhivehi Premier League

Gaddhoo Recreation Club coach Mohamed Nazeeh has highlighted the budget gap facing the South Region League champions and the shortage of defenders in the Dhivehi Premier League, as his side prepares to face Buru Sports Club. Nazeeh said Gaddhoo, newly competing in the Dhivehi Premier League this season, faces different challenges and that the team will work to overcome them. The match against Buru Sports Club is Gaddhoo’s second away match under the league’s new home-and-away format. Before that, Gaddhoo had lost three home matches — 2-0 to New Radiant Sports Club, 4-2 to TC Sports Club and 2-0 to Club Eagles. They then lost 2-0 to Odi Sports Club. “The Gaddhoo team was well prepared even at the start. Then, even if you look at money, the Gaddhoo team’s budget is not equal to the budget of big teams. If you bring a player playing in Male for 10,000 rufiyaa, even that rises to 25,000. That is if he is brought to an island. What Gaddhoo needed most was foreign players at the back. That is how it is. In Gaddhoo, there are two centre-backs and the goalkeeper is also foreign. So, like other teams, we cannot bring foreign players to play forward. That difference is visible,” Nazeeh said. He added: “When you go to the place and see, you know the situation there. When you go and see, you know those things. For example, the players who previously played, when they come out to play this, are 35 years old. So that is not the most suitable age to play matches in this intensity.” Nazeeh said they will go out against Buru Sports Club with hope. He noted that in the last match, Biss Buru’s win over Buru Sports Club was not by luck, and that Biss Buru did things well. Nazeeh said the four teams at the top of the league are roughly equal and that a win comes on a team’s good day. The experienced coach also said that even if Gaddhoo makes progress, the true picture will not be seen without results. He noted that progress has been slower than other teams because local players lack First Division experience. Nazeeh said he always goes out with teams with a plan and calculations. He noted that especially in the first round of the league, if six points are not obtained, it would be a difficult situation to survive, and that winning matches is important. Nazeeh said getting points from Buru, Biss Buru and Dhiddhoo is a target, and that apart from the Victory and Maziya matches, points can also be won from other games. He also highlighted Dhiddhoo’s results and praised them. Defender shortage a concern At yesterday’s press conference, Nazeeh also highlighted a point recently noted by national football team coach Isthavaan Urbainee: the shortage of Maldivian defenders in the league. Nazeeh noted that many teams playing in the league rely on foreign defenders, and said that has to happen because some things slip away at the coming-up age. “About 15 years ago, I have also been talking about this concern. Parents also want to make every child a Cristiano Ronaldo or a Messi. If that happens, it will be difficult for defenders to emerge. Looking ahead about 15 years, the names always loudly heard include the names of good defenders. For example, names like Kappi or Dhon Bileh came,” Nazeeh said. Nazeeh said a team is not built by the goal scorer alone, and that parents also need to know that. He said sometimes players’ careers end when some coaches play them out of position. Coach Nazeeh said it is important to develop especially defenders. He noted that in the development phase, even if players themselves say something, coaches need to look at the talent shown by children and play them in specific positions.