AFC Challenge Cup 2012: First Match Maldives Vs Turkmenistan Pre Match Preview

PROBABLE  LINEUPS:

TURKMENISTAN Rahmanberdi; Hojaahmedow, Soyunow, Atayew, Abylow; Sarkisow, Astanow, Coliyew, Amanow; Samyradow, Conkayew

MALDIVES Imran;Akram, Umair, Rilwan,Shifan; Arif, Fazeel, Adhuham, Shaafee; Thoriq, Mukhthaar

The first match of AFC Chalelnge Cup will be kicked off in few hours and everything s ready in kathmandu. Are You?

First match

In the First Match Red Snappers are taking on Green Men in the AFC Challenge Cup Football Tournament at Halchowk Stadium on Thursday
Group A: 
Maldives Vs Turkmenistan
Time: 3 PM NST

Venue: Halchowk Stadium

 Click here to Get Live Commentry of Match
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Maldives: 

The Maldivian team are fresh back from Thailand trip where they played friendly match against Thailand National football team (loss 0-3) and Thai Premier Leagues. According to the Coach, Istavan Urbanyi, their training camp in Thailand went well though the results were otherwise.
175th ranked tiny island country is the emerging nation in Asia but beating Turkmenistan would be difficult job for them.

Red Snappers

History In The AFC Challenge Cup: 

Maldives is playing their first match in AFC Challenge Cup football tournament. They were ineligible to play in 2006 and 2008 editions while they couldn't qualify for 2010 edition held in Sri Lanka.
Player to be watched:

Since Ali Ashfaq is not eligible to play for the match against Turkmenistan due to suspension, other strikers have huge responsibility to lead the team. Ahmed Thariq should be the player to be watched.

Coach Views: Istavan Uranyi said that all the teams which were participating in the AFC Challenge Cup wanted to win the Championship and they were no exception.

"We are playing for title. You can't predict what will be the score but you can aim for the win".

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan had decent training camp before coming to Nepal for the AFC Challenge Cup. The team went to Europe to play friendly matches against European Clubs.

The runners-up team in 2010 edition. Turks are looking confident of winning against Maldives National football team.

"We worked hard in the training camp and we hope boys will deliver what they have learned from the camp on the pitch", Coach said.

Turkmenistan

Player to be watched: 

Vahyt Orazsakhedov plays from Rubin Kazan, Russia. A deadly striker is just 20 years old.

Head To Head: Both teams are meeting second time. Earlier, Green Men defeated Maldives 3-1 in Male. 

Facts: 

• Turkmenistan’s highest ranking was 86, which they reached in 2004. They currently occupy the 166^th spot.

• The head coach of Rubin Kazan, Kurban Berdyev was a former coach of Turkmenistan.

• Maldives were the winners of the 2008 SAFF Championships winning the final in Colombo. But this is for the first time that they shall be taking part in the AFC Challenge Cup.

Last Five match stats:

Last Five Matches

Turkmenistan
28-Jul-2011	Indonesia 4 -Turkmenistan 3	WCQA
23-Jul-2011	Turkmenistan 1 - Indonesia 1	WCQA
27-Feb-2010	Turkmenistan 5 - N.Korea  6	ACC
24-Feb-2010	Tajikistan 0 - Turkmenistan 0	ACC
24-Feb-2010	Tajikistan 0 - Turkmenistan 2	ACC

Maldives
09-Dec-2011	Maldives 1 - India 3	SAFF
06-Dec-2011	Maldives 3 - Bangladesh 1	SAFF
04-Dec-2011	Pakistan 0 - Maldives 0	SAFF
02-Dec-2011	Maldives 1 - Nepal 1	SAFF
28-Jul-2011	Maldives 0 - Iran 1	WCQA