Yashmu removed from Handball National Team on return from training

Mohamed Yashmu Ahmed, who has recently returned to Maldives after completing training in Malaysia, has been removed from the Handball National Team. 

Yashmu said in a social media post that he had undertaken the trainings with permission from Handball Maldives. He said that after his return, he received a call instructing him to undergo fitness tests. When he failed to attend these tests, he was removed from the national team. 

"I came to Male' because my visa was expiring. Not longer after I got to Male', the association called and asked to come for a test. As it hadn't been long after my travels, it wasn't easy for me to go do the test at that time," he said in his post. 

"Since then, I have heard various reasons about why I was removed from the national team."

Yashmu stated that he has heard various reasons for his dismissal. Some coaches have cited other reasons besides his failure to attend the test, he said. 

A coach who trained Yashmu at club level said that Yashmu, who won Best Handball Player at the most recent Sports Awards, had returned to Male' after his trainings in Malaysia on Friday. He was asked to attend the fitness test on Saturday. 

Yashmu's mother, former ExCo member of the Handball Association, Mu'umina Adam (Moonty) said that when Yashmu had said he could not go for the fitness test, the association had instructed him to be present there even if he did not do the test. 

When Yashmu did not attend, he was informed that he had been removed from the national team. 

His club-level coach also said that this was disproportionately harsh. 

"A player who has returned after undergoing good training in Malaysia should only be dismissed with adequate reason. I think it's far too much to dismiss him from the team just for failing to attend their test venue," the coach said. 

Moonty said that if a Code of Ethics exists for players, then the association should clarify which article justified the action. However, the association has not provided any such clarification. 

Yashmu further said that he had provided the association with details of trainings undertaken in Malaysia and tournaments played while there. He was also granted the allowance for national team players over his two and a half months in Malaysia. 

Asked about the measures taken against Yashmu, lead of the national team's coaching panel Hussain Azham said that a formal statement on the action will be made by the association. 

Handball Maldives President Ahmed Mujuthaba (Mujey) said that the association has nothing to hide, and assured they will be releasing a statement regarding the matter.