Ali Thameem
In a further blow to Eydhafushi, Maziya SR has rejected the island’s plea to release two key players to play in the ongoing Gold Cup.
Responding to a letter by the island council’s president, Maziya SR reiterated the club’s decision to prohibit its players from representing their islands in the ongoing Gold Cup.
“It is most regrettable, that the club was not requested for permission before putting the names of two players on a team list, especially a team fielded by a formal entity like an island council”, wrote Maziya’s General Secretary Abdul Wahhab in the letter addressed to Eydhafushi Council.
“On past occasions, Maziya players had been released during the off-season” reminded the club, “but it is impossible to release them now that so much has been invested in preparing for the upcoming football season”.
And it would be “unfair, and disruptive to the club’s harmony, to release two players and not others”, the club’s letter had noted. The club further pointed out that all its players are bound by the contract signed on the back of FIFA and AFC’s guidelines, and that any player willing to play for another football team or any other sport, is to seek written permission from the club.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that Maziya SR remains the only Maldivian football club where players are paid their wages even during the off-season.
Hamza Mohamed and Haisham Hassan are not only key players to Eydhafushi and Maziya but also well-established players in the Maldives National Team.
As per the letter, today, the 27th of November, is the day Maziya starts its training sessions ahead of the reported start of the season in January.
Today is also the day Eydhafushi plays their second game of the Gold Cup against Thimarafushi. The capital of Baa Atoll had won their first game against neighbours Thulhaadhoo.
In addition to the release of Haisham and Hamza, the island had also requested Club Eagles for the release of Nishaam Mohamed.
