Football coach Saanthy passes away

Popular football coach Ihusan Abdul Ghani (Saanthy) has passed away last night.

He passed away while he had been receiving treatment for cancer at the Treetop Hospital. He had been suffering from cancer for over two years.

Saanthy was the Assistant Coach of the National Team when Maldives first won the SAFF Championship. While having spent the beginning of his career on the National Team, he later joined club football as well.

As such, he coached for Club Eagles for many years as well, winning the 2019 Dhivehi Premier League for them. He also led Eagles to win the FAM Charity Shield in 2020 and 2021 through defeating Maziya.

In 2023, he resumed coaching Eagles. He had to leave halfway through the season due to health reasons. He left Eagles in June 2023 after handing over coaching to his close friend Coach Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan).

Saanthy has also previously served as Technical Director of Football Association of Maldives (FAM). He also filled the position of Chairman of Sports Corporation and as chef de mission of the Maldivian contingent who played in the 2015 Indian Ocean Island Games.