Praise is to Allah, We won the SAFF Suzuki Cup 2018. Great. I feel great at the same time i feel uneasy.

As someone who worked closely with the team that won in 2008. It sure feels different. I am a fan of Ali Ashfaq (Dhagandey) but before that I am a fan of Maldives. 

Those fools who said "do Maldivians play football!?" are today celebrating. The people who insulted everything about Maldivian football. Suddenly they 'believe' it was right of Petar Segrt to drop Dhagandey. They believe what exactly? Based on what? They don't even know what is going on in the local league. If you are to have an opinion, you have to have some knowledge on the subject.

Yes Segrt has insulted Dhagandey on more than one occasion. He went as far as saying Dhagandey though he can score in local league, International football is different.

We don't expect those plastic fans to stand up for Dhagandey. No! Their opinions on the matter from various Facebook pages prove that they have no clue on local football. How can they have a clue when all they did till today is insult Maldives football and today suddenly they are die-hard fans? 

Apart from these plastics. Why didn't anyone stand up? Do you know that Adubarey (Ashad Ali), the former captain was dropped for commenting on Dhagandey issue. Same issue with Mohamed Umair. Dismissed giving injury as an excuse. why didn't anyone raise their voice even once?

We have become so ungrateful that the person who deserves this honor the most is just cast aside with contradictory press releases from the head coach Petar Segrt and the President of the Association Bassam Adeel Jaleel. 

If you didn't cook up a story, why do the statements contradict? Mr Bassam and the man who swore to defend you Mr Segrt, Your war of words with the media blaming them is very childish. Football news sites such as BoalhaMV, MaldiveSoccer and other news sources have every right to present the information they get. I think all 'the media' wanted was one confirmed reason for Dhagandey's exclusion. Because we are tired of your contradictions. The attack on media confirms that too.

You people have scared the other players into believing your lies. Otherwise I do not believe Akram Abdul Ghani, Mohamed Arif, Mohamed Faisal, Asadulla Abdulla and others will just accept your decision. This is an insult to the man who put us on the map. Dhagandey has inspired more youngsters, Dhagandey has motivated young national players more than these 'yes man' Youth development coaches who are quick to support Segrt.

I can't believe that some of you are so glad that Dhagandey is out of the team. There is no Maldivian who deserves more in football than Dhagandey. Any person who does not get that should not be leading the nations football development. 

And for what reason are we building for the future when in Maldives we insult the legends as soon as they age. Football cannot be improved until we unite. There is no unity when the only player who everyone knows is just cast aside without a proper explanation when he is the best player in the league.

Maldives is full of talent. No one in SAARC region can match us in talent. Only reason we are where we are is because we lack the unity and the proper administrators who will work for the good of football, rather than personal gain.

My question is tomorrow when Akram Abdul Ghani is sacked without a proper reason who will stand up for him!? 

Photo: ImagesMV