Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Male: Former Australia international Darren Stewart has been appointed head coach of the Maldives for their upcoming 2019 AFC Asian Cup play-off against Laos.
Stewart assumes the role following the June departure of June of Ricki Herbert who was in charge of New Zealand at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Maldives will play Laos at home on September 6 and away on October 11 in what is now the second phase of qualifying play-offs.
Six set for final throw of UAE 2019 qualifying dice
"Somebody recommended me. When the job was offered I accepted it straight away because chances like this don't come along very often," Stewart, who most recently was head coach of Singapore side Woodlands Wellington, told ESPN FC.
"I'm under no illusions that I need to get a positive result in the playoff to stay on in the role. It adds pressure but I have no problem with that."
"I will have only 10 days with the Maldives players before the play-off against Laos. It's not a lot of time, but I will do my best because there's no alternative. I am a pretty determined sort of guy."
In the previous qualifying round, the Maldives lost both legs 2-0 to Yemen, results which saw the 2003 SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Championship runners-up set up their encounter with Laos, who were humbled ultimately 7-1 on aggregate by an India side that had to come from a goal down before running out compressive 6-1 second-leg winners on home soil.
The other Play-off Round 2 fixtures see Bangladesh play Bhutan and Timor-Leste face Chinese Taipei.
The three victorious sides in the final play-offs will complete the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying picture, with 24 teams competing for one of 12 remaining slots on offer at the 17th edition of Asia’s flagship tournament.
Photo: AFC