Mohamed Shazly(Shaz) lead Maldives Under 18 team that won bronze medal at SAFF Under 18 Championship. The first Maldivian coach to win a medal in an International/Regional competition, Shaz is also the first Maldivian to complete the continental Pro-License course. 

BoalhaMV met with Coach Shaz in our sponsor Mins Deli Beach Cafe' and Stay's Hulhumale restaurant. We are proud to bring you a few words from the man himself.

BoalhaMV: Coach Shaz, you have completed the Pro-License and head the Coach Education department in the Football Association, you won Second Division with BG Sports and also Police Club, you have helped create D-License instructor's in the country. With the then Technical Director Ihusaan Abdul Ghani(Saanthi), you have lead one of the most active days in Maldives Coach Education history. You have however told us earlier that winning bronze in SAFF under 18 Championship is your biggest success so far. Why is that?

Shaz: this is not just a personal achievement, this gives us a lot of hope for the future of Maldivian football. From now on we can fight for gold in SAFF junior competitions and also fight to qualify for the AFC Championships. When we achieve this I will be most happy. Whoever the coach will be, when Maldives achieve this it will be the great. Inn sha Allah it's very possible. Before no one believed that we can do this, now that we won bronze, people are starting to believe that SAFF gold and AFC qualification can be achieved.

BoalhaMV: how long do you think will it take for us to achieve this?

Shaz: Four years! If we try hard even in 2021, two years that is, the next SAFF Championship and AFC qualification round.

BoalhaMV: Come on coach! Isn't it unrealistic? 

Shaz: It's not. Because before teams went to gain experience, from now on teams will go to win, not just to gain experience. This mentality and the time(two years) that we have, if utilized, I don't see any reason why we can't win SAFF Championship or to qualify to the AFC Championship.

BoalhaMV: What made you come to this positive outlook for Maldives junior teams. 

Shaz: After the disappointing run last time out, I wanted to see for myself what the real reasons are for the junior teams losing to SAFF opponents. I was their coach in under 16, I knew their quality, though there has been many news players into the squad, I wanted to see for myself how far we can reach.

BoalhaMV: Many people say that you are lucky to land this team, that this batch is a very talented batch compare to others. What do you have to say about that?

Shaz: In 2015 we had a great squad, in 2017 we had a great squad. Just like in 2019, we will Inn Sha Allah have great squads in 2021 and 2023 also. Maldives has talent in abundance. 

BoalhaMV: Then what is the reason for the lack of success in the previous tournaments?

Shaz: Maybe, because previously those who were incharge did not believe that we could win. Previously teams participated to gain experience. The winning mentality is important. I believe so.

BoalhaMV: who set the target to win this time?

Shaz: me.

BoalhaMV: why is that?

Shaz: After seeing the boys in training, we decided to play friendly matches with Dhivehi Premier League teams. Results were very encouraging. It was amazing how these boys, most of whom never played in senior level performed against Premier League players. 

BoalhaMV: How was the support from the Association(FAM)?

Shaz: Bassam Adheel Jalil, the FA President and his General Secretary Hussain Jawaz were very helpful. Bassam specially gave his full support for the under 19 team. He was always in contact with the team and facilitated all the needs of the team.

BoalhaMV: Most of the results of the team were good, but the game against Tajikistan(lost 0-9) was not what we expected. Why is that?

Shaz: Well we played after traveling for eighteen hours. In flight and transit and all. From Nepal to Tajikistan. It was an impossible job, when we arrived in Tajikistan we didn't even have time to rest. If we had any choice we wouldn't even play that game. But in order to avoid a suspension and losing the opportunity to play in the competition we had to play. I used a changed team. The players who performed that day did an amazing job giving their all. It's not something that they should be doing, playing without sleep after eighteen hour travel.

BoalhaMV: Everyone knows Choatu(Hassan Nazeem Gassim) from your team. Can you name five other key players?

Shaz: That is a difficult thing to do, to name 5 players, as I have a very good team, but let me try

Goalkeeper Aleef: outstanding performances throughout, he showed a lot of promise.

Imran(Immi): also known as Messi. He is oozing with confidence. His confidence helped the team a lot. His goal was the difference as Maldives beat Bhutan 1-0 in the SAFF third place match.

Husam: a true number-9. Consistent throughout, he was one of team's most dangerous players.

Saavee: Defender turned midfielder one of our most versatile player. He is consistent performer who also has eye for goal, scoring against Syria.

Ahnaf: Led the defense. His leadership in defense was very valuable for the team.

Really it's not easy naming only five players, it does not do justice for the team.

BoalhaMV: very true, But we have to move on. You said in an interview before that tournament that Choatu is the next Dhagandey(Ali Ashfaq). What it the reason behind this statement and do you still believe that?

Shaz: His Individual skills, and also the fact that he's a born leader. Already he is a national player. But in under 19 squad Choatu did not expect any special treatment. He is always very humble, not at all bossy and he is a strong motivator. If you see Maldives(under 18 team) games against Syria and India always few players pressed him, even from the opponent bench, they always shout 'number 7'. This is exactly like Ashfaq(Dhagandey). If you guys compare videos from Ashfaq when he played in the SAFF competitions and Choatu in the SAFF under 18 and AFC games, it looks the same. They fear Dhagandey and in junior competition they fear Choatu. So let me say this again, Choatu is the next Dhagandey Inn Sha Allah.

This is off the record, Choatu left the country with senior national team to camp in Sri Lanka before traveling to Guam for his senior international debut, after a very short break he joined the under 19 squad, after two tournaments, when we travel home tired, Choatu has flown to Dubai to face Syria in World Cup qualifying game, Choatu is still not done serving the nation.

(With permission from Shaz we included this off the record statement)

BoalhaMV: Shaz, whats next in your career?

Shaz: well for now my work is done with the under 19 team, I will be back in the Association working to develop coaches. 

BoalhaMV: What about your players, whats next for them?

Shaz: They will perform better in the league for sure. After the experience and confidence that they have taken, they will play much better in the league.

BoalhaMV: would you like to add anything? Have we missed anything?

Shaz: Yes, I would like to thank my manager Favvaz, the medic Rameez and the kit manager Ali Ibrahim. To me this is the best official group I have had so far in my career. And the technical staff were superb. goalkeeper coach Hassan, Assistant coaches Fareed and Afiu were a huge support to me. Their work in general training, match warm ups and technical sessions really took away a lot of pressure from me. I am very happy with my team behind the team.

BoalhaMV would like to thank Coach Shaz and his team for this achievement for our nation. 

Photo: Facebook | Football Association of Maldives