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Choatu Decides To Stay With Foakaidhoo FC

Choatu Decides To Stay With Foakaidhoo FC
ETFA Foakaidhoo Sports Club Maldives

Maldives under 14 starlet who debuted in the Dhivehi Premier League this season, Hassan Nazeem Gassim(Choatu) has decided to stay with Foakaidhoo FC for the upcoming season. 

Best known as one of the Vice Captains of Maldives under 14 National team, Choatu made handful of appearances for Foakaidhoo FC this season scoring against Green Streets with a solo goal beating four defenders. Choatu also has a couple of assists to his name for FFC.

Despite interest from Male' clubs, Choatu decided to return to Foakaidhoo FC under-21 team training after a brief absence. Foakaidhoo FC manager Mohamed Rimaz, talking to BoalhaMV said that the management was devastated when the news of Choatu leaving FFC broke out.

"We did all we could to bring him back, the management want Choatu to be with us for a foreseeable future" said Rimaz, the manager of Foakaidhoo under 21 team. "Alhamdulillah he returned, and our captain Oggy(Mohamed Jailam) helped to convince Choatu to stay"

Rimaz also says that Foakaidhoo is not here for one season and that Foakaidhoo has a long term plan. 

Choatu was unavailable for comment. Rimaz also added that Foakaidhoo FC coach and the under 21 team coach Ahmed Husham both want to keep Choatu in FFC. The coaching staff sees Choatu as an asset for both the senior team and the under 21 teams.

Choatu came to limelight replacing the Egyptian Mahmud Mostafa(Kahraba) and did not disappoint. Upon his return from his studies, Choatu replaced the experienced Kahraba who moved to Saudi Arabian league. Choatu made an immediate impact with some of the Foakaidhoo supporters calling him 'Kuda Kahurabaa'- translated as the young Kahraba.

The 17 year old Maldives junior national player is not new to Maldives football. Dominating Inter-School tournaments since he was nine years old for Jamaluddin School. Choatu trained mostly with Early Touch Football Academy until he moved to Sri Lanka for studies. In Sri Lanka Choatu worked with Ahmed Firaz Moosa(Malla). On return to Maldives Choatu signed with FFC coached by his former youth coach at Early Touch Football Academy.

16 January 2019