Majority people of Maldives believe if Messi is important to Argentina and if Cristiano Ronaldo is important to Portugal then Ali Ashfaq (Dhangadey) is much more important to Maldives National Football Team. When we say the name Ali Ashfaq, Dhangadey or Iron Man not only people of Maldives know the name but any football fan in South Asia or ASEAN would know the name of this great player. Whenever there is a tournament which Maldives is participating and if Ali Ashfaq is in Maldivian team squad the opponent team Managers and players focus will always be on Ali Ashfaq.

 And most of the time in press conferences they would tell how talented and how careful they would be of this great player. And our biggest football arch enemy Indian team’s best player Sunil Chetri recently said Ali Ahsfaq is the best Football player of this region. We all agree to Sunil Chetri’s words. Because Ali Ahsfaq is the seventh in the list of active international top goal scorers in the world. And some of the best players of our generation (internationally) are below Ali Ashfaq in this list of top scorers. We can write a whole book on this great player, let’s keep that for another time and continue with our main story.

Now a days most talking point of whole football community of Maldives on Social media and news headline is Ali Ashfaq not being selected for the National Football Team squad for SAFF Championship. When the Maldives team achieved first ever Football gold medal in 2008 SAFF championship Ali Ashfaq was the main man of the Maldives team and the most favorite player of all the Maldivians. Ali Ashfaq is in great form in Dhivehi premier League and the top scorer at the moment and people’s concerns are bursting out beyond control.

 

First time he was left out of squad was when we played a Friendly Match against Bhutan. And the reason coach gave was Ali Ahsfaq not being mentally fit. But Ali Ashfaq kept saying he is ready and he is on great form to give his best for the Nation. But later we found out the reason Ali A shfaq was left out of squad was when he didn’t attend a press conference before match against Bhutan and had clashed with the National Coash. And coach firmly said he will only take players who give 100 percent for the National Team.

 

 All the journalists of Maldives know how distant Ali Ashfaq is to media and press conferences. But we all have to agree with coach because we all believe any player or individual who present our nation have to give their 100 percent. But an interview in pre match press conference against Bhutan, coach said Ashfaq is not fit for the match but if he is in great form and fit Ali Ashfaq might be in SAFF Championship Squad.  

 

And most shocking news was when FA Maldives published squad for the SAFF championship. Ali Ashafq name was not included. Ali Ashfaq is the top scorer and his form in New Radiant and TC sports club is outstanding. If I’m not wrong he’s still the best dribbler and playmaker playing in The Maldives and no one is not close enough to his level despite his age. We all have the question if coach made a mistake for not selecting Ashfaq to squad after he came back from  injury and playing in that form.

 

There are many reasons why Majority of the people believe Ashfaq should be in the team. One is that he’s the most influential and player with most experience. And someone who can share his own experience to youngsters. And has a vast fan base and this will with help our lack of supporters at the stadium. This is not just my opinion. Many people are sharing their view on social platforms. Recently I shared a poll on my personal Facebook page to see how the public think about this matter. Out of 647 users, 525 thinks Ashfaq has to be in the team and wants to see him play. And 122 thinks he should not be in the team.

We talked to some Maldivian coaches and technical staffs about this matter and their opinion about Ashfaq.

 

Former national Team player, former FA Maldives Technical director and one of the best coaches we have ever seen in Maldives Mr. Mauroof Ahmed (Mattey) gave his point of view about this matter.

Maattey “In my opinion Ashfaq is the undisputed best player in this country. His current performance in the league is good and I believe he’s at his best in this season currently. Having him and not having him is purely a decision of the coach. Coach would have a criteria set by himself to select players that would have different ways of looking at. Having Ashfaq in the team would certainly give extra hope and confidence for the youngsters. I would always respect the decision of coach and this is my personal opinion on this.”

New Radiant coach Oscar Bruzzon Barreras said, “My point of view is that Dhagey (Ashfaq) is a top player and a reference in Maldives football”

 

TC Sports Club coach, Mohamed Nizam (Nizambe), who is currently Ashfaq’s club coach said, “They dropped him last time highlighting an issue between him and the coach and I am not sure why he was not selected this time. What I can guarantee is that he is in his top form and he is still an asset for our national team.”

 

Ihusaan Abdul Ghani (Saanthi), who was the assistant coach when Maldives won gold medal in 2008 is now the Technical Director of the Football Association. Coach Ihusaan commented, “Selecting players is the coach’s responsibility. Selection will depend on his style of play and strategy. I respect and support his selection. Even France team went without some of their star but they won the world cup. In football we can’t please everyone, especially on a transition period of players. I do appreciate the service, commitment and dedication given to football by Ashfaq.”

 

Green Street’s Coach Ali Suzain, the most successful coach in Maldives Football said,” He is in good form so I thought he must be selected.”

Foakaidhoo FC Head Coach Ali Nisthar Mohamed said, “National team coach has the right to choose this squad. I don’t think anyone doubts it. But the reasons he gave are contradictory. The national team belongs to the fans they deserve a better explanation”

 

MSN Academy's former under19 National Coach, who also coached Valencia and VB Sports Mohamed shahid (shaad) said, “With his current form there’s no reason why Ali Ashfaq shouldn’t be in National Squad.  Young players will have a good opportunity to learn a lot from him. Ashfaq should be in National Team squad.”

 

Former National Women’s team assistant coach Mayan Mohamed said, “Ashfaq is the best player Maldives have ever seen. I can’t think of any reason why an experienced, great in form senior players, should be left aside to build our younger generation of footballers. We can experiment and introduce young players some other way, maybe introducing them in friendlies and small tournaments. Ever since we got the gold SAFF Championship is the most serious tournament to Maldives. For Big tournaments like SAFF Championship we should take the best. Playing at their best and best disciplined players, young or old. We don’t have another ashfaq. Ahsfaq deserve a spot in the National Team.”

 

Former New Radiant Manager Mr. Ibrahim Shaaz Habeeb said: “we can say, almost all the clubs in Dhivehi Premier League have a foreign striker yet the top scorer is Ali Ashfaq. He shows a difference after coming back from a big injury. When I worked in New Radiant with Ashfaq I never had any discipline issues. He’s always seen as a team leader and teach others what he knows. Even former Italian number one keeper Gianluigi Buffon is 40 years old and he’s still one of the top 5 Keepers of the world. This is not about the age difference but it’s all about commitment, hard work, dedication and fitness”

 

National team Coach Mr. Petar Segrt said in the press conference after announcing the SAFF Championship squad that opportunity to give new young players to play in the tournaments is the main reason Ali Ashfaq, the best player of Maldives ever seen was, left out of squad.

 

 Coach said there is no question about Ashfaq’s talent and have the outmost respect for him. “We had 66 players noted as to be selected for national team. We selected these players as per their discipline, teamwork and for an improving talented of young players”

In the same press briefing coach repeatedly talked about Ali Ashfaq’s age. But a player of same age as Ali Ashfaq, Mohamed Arif (BAKA) was selected. The Coach justified that Arif’s experience can be used!

After the announcement, the public and the media had difference of opinion about this matter. Most showing much concern.

 

 President of FA Maldives Mr. Bassam Adheel Jaleel said to speaking to the media “Coach was tasked to build a better generation of football players in Maldives with the help of senior players. We don’t want an instant result. We want to build a long term team for a good result for the future.

 

“But we need the help of all the people for this to work. And I respect and fully support coach’s decision of the selected players”

 

Regarding this matter Ashfaq said through his official Twitter said that he would very much like to play in this tournament but he respects the coach’s decisions to leave him out of the squad.

 

I leave some question to the readers. Is it the best time to leave Ali Ashfaq out of National team when we are trying so hard for the development of Maldives football? True that coach Segrt only knows who will play for a team when he’s coaching. But after Ali Ashfaq the best player most people think is Ali Fasir (Sentey) and yet if same thing happens to Fasir wouldn’t the people burst out like this?! Should this be allowed to happen to future best players? Moreover why is Petar Segrt’s comments so contradictory?!

Photo: ImagesMV

 

03 August 2018