Dhagandey's presence will intimidate Bengaluru FC: Eagles' coach
The playoffs match will be played on the 15th
Ali Ashfaq (Dhagandey)
Club Eagles’ coach Mohamed ‘Shaz’ Shazly has said that the presence of Ali ‘Dhagandey’ Ashfaq will intimidate their opponent in the upcoming AFC Cup playoff game.
Eagles will face India's Bengaluru FC on August 15, with the winners to qualify for the group stages.
While Ashfaq considered as the best Maldivian footballer ever, he has joined Eagles for the playoff match as the team was given the chance to change seven players from the squad. Ashfaq has not joined the team officially and is only set to play the August 15 match, which will become his first game with Eagles.
Shazly, who previously said that Bengaluru is stronger than any of the current teams qualified for the AFC Cup group stage, said that having Ashfaq in the team will be an advantage for them. He said that this is not only intimidate the Indian team, but that Ashfaq is also known to motivate players. Shazly added that they can also utilize Ashfaq's skills and experience.
Ashfaq is described as the best player in the history of Maldivian football, having achieved numerous achievements since starting out his professional career at the age of 16 in 2001 with Club Valencia.
Beginning his career at the age of 16, Ashfaq made his international debut for Maldives in December 2003, at the age of 18. He is Maldives' all-time top scorer with 53 goals.
Since then, he has played various local clubs such as New Radiant Sports Club, VB sports Club, Maziya Recreation and Sports Club, TC Sports Club and Green Streets Club. Dhangandey has also played for foreign club's such as Malaysia PDRM FA and Brunei's DPMM FC.
While the Eagles' team has the chance to change seven players, they have also brought in Akram ‘Aku’ Abdul Ghanee, Ali ‘Sentey’ Fasir, Mohamed ‘Bakaa’ Arif, Ismail ‘Messi’ Easa, Ahmed ‘Ammadey’ Hassan as well as goalkeeper Mohamed Faisal.
The AFC Cup group D matches will be held in Maldives, starting with the playoff game between Eagles and Bengaluru FC on August 15. The winner of the match will join Maldives' Maziya Sports and Recreation Club, India’s Mohun Bagan FC and Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings in Group D.
The group stage will be held across three match days on August 18, 21 and 24, with the eventual group leaders advancing to semi-finals.
