"I would hate to lose this chance" Riley tells BoalhaMV

According to Riley, if New Radiant Sports Club does not reduce their Transfer fee for Riley, he might have to come back to complete the remaining 5 month of his New Radiant contract. Sur Sports Club of Oman has requested the release of ex-Maldives international Rilwan Waheed.

New Radiant has demanded a transfer fee of $10,000 (MVR154,200) for Riley's services. Speaking to BoalhaMV, Riley say's Sur Sports Club is refusing to pay the hefty fee for the player as his contract expires in 5 months. "$10,000 for 5 months is too expensive for the Omani side, If i was under contract for a year or more, it is not a problem for them.

"It's has a been a dream of mine to play for a foreign club, It will be very disappointing if i lose this opportunity."

Riley was invited for a trial by the former National Team coach, Valizar Popov who is the head coach of Sur Sports Club. Popov was also Riley's coach at New Radiant, besides the National team. Popov also invited Akram Abdul Ghani for a trial when he was coaching the Malaysian side Kelantan. 

Sur Sports Club had requested a transfer from New Radiant last Tuesday (7th August) after Riley passed the fitness and medical tests. 

However speaking to the media, New Radiant's general secretary Ahmed Niyaz(Ted) said that the board decided to let Riley go only for a transfer fee. Since the transfer deadline has passed (In The Maldives) and that New Radiant does not have enough defenders in their squad. It was decided to take the fee, as no players can be added to their squad this season. New Radiant also noted that Riley has gone on this trial with their permission.

In 2007, New Radiant has asked for a transfer fee when Dhagandey (Ali Ashfaq) moved to DPMM FC of Brunei. The fans of the club is said to have shown their displeasure over the transfer fee back then too.

According to Riley, clubs in Maldives encourages players to take these rare chances players get. It is important for players and clubs to take these chances to take the Maldivian football to another level.

This is a rare chance for Maldivian players. Because Maldivian players do not have agents like most nations. Chances that Maldivian players get are through, coaches or players who have worked here and moved abroad and. So this is not something that we see everyday. 

Would losing these opportunities for players be considered a blow for the development of football in Maldives?

Photo: ImagesMV