United Victory (UV) head coach Mohamed Nazeeh has praised his players for their outstanding performance despite a narrow defeat against the Maldivian football powerhouse, Maziya Sports and Recreation, in the Dhivehi Premier League.
The encounter, held on the 4th of this month, saw UV succumb to a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Maziya.
Speaking to “PSM News” following the match, Nazeeh stated that the team entered the pitch with the firm determination to secure at least a point. However, he noted that conceding an early goal significantly disrupted their strategic approach for the game.
“We were hopeful of securing a point, but things did not go as planned. The opening goal we conceded really unsettled our game plan. It happened while the players were showing great character and fighting hard. It was a soft goal, and frankly, a situation that should have been avoided,” Nazeeh remarked while reflecting on the team’s performance.
Despite the loss, Nazeeh emphasized that it would be unfair to judge UV’s overall quality based solely on this result, citing several contributing factors.
“We held Maziya to a 1-2 scoreline even while they were playing at their best. To compete effectively, you need a complete squad. I had high expectations after the first round and spoke about new signings. However, our striker joined only two days before the first match, and our defender is expected to arrive tonight (January 4th). Consistent results can only be achieved when the necessary players are available. For instance, if any local coach is given a squad like Maziya’s—which essentially consists of the national team’s starting eleven—they would comfortably win titles. There is a vast difference in resources between these two levels. Therefore, a direct comparison is not appropriate. In my view, the performance shown by the UV players was truly commendable,” Nazeeh added.
Following this match in Game Week 13, United Victory remains at the bottom of the league standings with seven points from 13 matches. Their season record so far includes two wins, one draw, and ten defeats.
