“Practices began five weeks early, fully ready for the match”

The Coach of the Yemeni team facing the Maldives tomorrow in the first match of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifying, Abraham Ibrathoo has said that his is team started practices five weeks early and is fully ready for the match.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference today at the National Stadium before the match tomorrow, Coach Abraham said that his team practiced in their own country and abroad and his team would be coming out tomorrow to win the match and build the hope of qualifying to the AFC Cup.

He said that the Yemeni team performed well in the World Cup qualifying but were at a loss since they were in a strong group.

Yemen won two out of their ten World Cup qualifiers against Pakistan and Philippines. Yemen won against the Philippines after a late goal by the 17-year-old striker, Ahmed Abdulkim.

Coach Abraham said that Ahmed is a different type of player and it is that reason that the forward playing in the under-17 team was selected to the senior team.

He said that as the first match is an away game for them, they are fully aware that the Maldivian team would be very strong in front of their home fans and would be very cautious.

As the first leg of the match is set to take place at 9 p.m. tomorrow at the National Stadium in Malé City, the second leg would be in Qatar due to the civil war in Yemen.

Abraham said that the Yemeni team would aim to get three points from tomorrow’s match and would settle for at least a point.