We did not purposely exclude Ashfaq” Bassam

The President of the football Association of Maldives Bassam Adheel Jaleel has said that they did not purposely exclude Ashfaq from the National team.

Talking to the TVM, Bassam said when they registered players with AFC, Ashfaq was saying that he would want to retire after the Bhutan match. That is the reason why Ashfaq was not included in the 30 man preliminary squad. After Ashfaq said he would like to play, FAM tried to include him in the squad. Bassam also said that the reason that this request was not successful was that the countries in this region are aware of Ashfaq's caliber.

Bassam has said that he will never try to influence to exclude any player from the National team, while he's in the position he is in. Especially not Ashfaq. Bassam says he believes that Ashfaq is in top form and can still do a job for the nation. “Every competition has rules, and we have to accept that” he said talking in the state run TVM. He blames Ashfaq’s talk of retirement for the entire unpleasant saga.

Ashfaq is the best player in the region, so he has won the hearts of the supporters. His exclusion has the nation divided and has raised questions about Segrt and the Association itself. Petar Segrt went as far as claiming that he will not select those who don’t give 100 percent for the team.

Though Ashfaq did not say much in the media about this issue, he says that he can only play if the coach wanted him to.

This is a major contradiction between the Association and Petar Segart. Segrt saying Ashfaq is too old for his “WORLD CUP” team and Bassam saying it’s just a registration issue.

Photo: ImagesMV