Shillong, Feb 22: The Times of India has reported that Maldives are reluctant to play their men’s international friendly in Shillong, scheduled for 19th March, because of a lack of good flight connections from here to their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier in the Philippines.
India are meant to play Maldives in a friendly before the qualifiers begin on 25th March. India’s first qualifier is to be against Bangladesh here but Maldives have quite a journey to get to their opener away in the Philippines.
According to TOI, Maldives have requested the All India Football Federation to change the venue of the friendly, which was meant to be the first ever men’s international football match held in Shillong.
Kolkata is being talked of as an alternative venue. The possibility of replacing Maldives with another team would be difficult in the extreme given the timescale.
(TSR representative photo)
