Hernandez won the Maldivian Super Cup with "Maziya" and is betting on youth.
Luismi Hernandez, the coach of Maziya Sports and Recreation, won the Maldives FA Super Cup by defeating Club Eagles 2-0 and is betting on young players in the new season.
Luisma Hernandez has once again made history in Maldivian football! The coach from Tenerife, who has only been coaching Maziya Sports and Recreation for a few months, has added another trophy to his collection. He recently won the Cup, and now the Super Cup. This match pits the league champion against the cup winner. It is not just a game, but also a charity event that opens the new football season.
His team defeated Club Eagles 2-0 in the Charity Shield final, which took place in Male, the capital of the Maldives. This marked the start of the 2025/26 season.
The coach, who has experience working in Kuwait, Korea, Uzbekistan, and Lithuania, particularly emphasized the importance of young players. He is proud to have "given two 16-year-old boys their debut" and stresses that youth is the foundation of his strategy. Winning the Super Cup adds responsibility, as the championship starts this weekend. But the coach is not afraid of challenges and aims to become champion again.
This victory is a great start for the club and fans, especially since it was achieved in a game against a strong opponent. Hernandez understands that now they need to keep the bar high. The goal for the season is to qualify for the AFC Cup, an Asian tournament similar to the European Conference League.
But the road to victory will not be easy. The coach acknowledges that the team has become weaker than last season. Therefore, Luisma Hernandez will have to use every opportunity, be as focused as possible, and rely on the young players he believes in. For example, he gave a young talent a chance to debut, and he has already become the youngest player to play for the national team.
International competitions are ahead. Although past experience in the AFC Cup ended in defeat against Kuwait's Al Arabi, a team with a larger budget and experienced players, Hernandez believes his Maziya fought with dignity. The defeat on August 12th became an incentive to come back stronger in future tournaments.