Renowned Football Coach Ihusan Abdul Ghani (Saanthy) Passes Away After Battle with Cancer

Renowned football coach Ihusan Abdul Ghani, affectionately known as Saanthy, has passed away at the age of [insert age]. He died last night while receiving cancer treatment at Treetop Hospital, after battling the illness for over two years.

Saanthy played a key role in the Maldives’ football history as the Assistant Coach of the National Team during their first SAFF Championship win. His early career was spent working with the national squad before he transitioned to coaching at the club level.

He enjoyed significant success with Club Eagles, where he was a long-time coach. Under his guidance, the team won the Dhivehi Premier League in 2019. He also led Eagles to victory in the FAM Charity Shield in both 2020 and 2021, defeating Maziya in both instances.

In 2023, Saanthy returned to coaching at Club Eagles but had to step down midway through the season due to health concerns. He left the team in June 2023, passing on the coaching responsibilities to his close friend, Coach Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan).

In addition to his club coaching roles, Saanthy served as the Technical Director for the Football Association of Maldives (FAM). He also held the position of Chairman of the Sports Corporation and was the chef de mission for the Maldivian team at the 2015 Indian Ocean Island Games.