From L-R; Best second player Anil, Best coach Maatey and Fazeel with Golden boot

Much has been said in the media and throughout the country about the pensiveness of the awards given for the season 2007. Two award parties are over and one is yet to go. I can’t really wait for the media and the rest of the nation to criticise on the next. Such criticism never happened. I guess Maldivesoccer.com’s Inside stories about FAM awards were the only criticised articles about the awards before. But this time it’s everywhere. Not only in maldivesoccer.com. Even though, daily newspaper Haveeru did partially mention about the walkout by the players, it would be a huge blow for them mainly because they are also dependent heavily on the advertisers and it would be a big blow for the advertisers if the players does not agree on it. This has raised concerns about the future award ceremonies held in the Maldives and there are chances that players might boycott these award ceremonies. For me as a fan of Maldivian soccer who had the chance to view most of the matches in 2007 has no doubt that the award ceremonies are bogus.

First, it was a complete shock to me when Vyansa was given the top club last season. I tried a lot of mathematical calculations and I still could not understand, partially maybe I am not in good in mathematics or simply it was illogical or it did not make sense at all. For a point system it has to be fairly assessed. Playing in first division football and second division football is entirely different in the Maldives and elsewhere in the world. For example, if a second division team plays against a second division team would be easier than a second division team playing against first division team. If you look at FIFA’s grading scale, they assess based on the rankings. If you’re highly ranked and if you win against a team with a low ranking you would get less points. However, if you’re playing against a high rank club and win the match you would be getting higher points. This is logical.

First division matches are tougher compared to the second division matches. Suppose a team in second division is bought by a rich businessman and invest in players, they would win the second division tournament which would give them a chance of playing 12 odd games and qualify for the first division in the same season. If they manage to win 40% of the first division matches they would be crowned as the best team. It sounds illogical in my point of view.

Focussing on the players grading scales it suffers the same ambiguity. Being a soccer journalist I had a chance to get firsthand experience in one of the panels of a prestigious football awards. With the assistant coaches, coaches of the leading clubs we sat together and discuss about the best player for the tournament and then note down our best five players. The chief judge then finds out which name gets repeated the most and is selected as the best player of the tournament. Some give them points some don’t. But that’s the way it’s done.

I agree with the quote by Mahidh Shareef in the daily newspaper, Jazeera about the awards. It’s time for us to think professionally. Think logical. How much bias are we introducing by naming the players who we feel are the best? Of course, if I am an assistant coach of Valencia, I would nominate three players from Valencia and the rest from other clubs. That’s the reality.

In English Premier League, they have a point scale in which goal keepers are assessed based on the number of minutes he spent on the pitch, the total saves he makes and the number of goals scored against him. Players are assessed based on the time he spends on the pitch, his discipline ( number of cards ), number of blocks, number of assists, shots, shots on goal, fouls committed, number of goals scored and number of goals conceded. If you have this information in your hand, everything is decided. The judges do not have to be in all the matches of the whole season and could get together and finalise the player after the tournament. The winner would be supported by the statistics.

It’s time for us to do it professionally and not based on biased decisions which we introduce on our own. However, I must thank all the award winners of this year and FAM, Haveeru Daily and Aafathisnews for their gentle contribution by hosting the prestigious award ceremonies.

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