Celebrated football coach Santhi dies aged 51

One of the most influential coaches in Maldivian football history, Ihusan Abdul Ghani, better known as Santhi, has died of cancer.

The 51-year-old died at the Tree Top Hospital on Saturday night, succumbing to a two-year battle with cancer.

Tributes have begun coming in as the sporting community and the larger Maldives mourns his loss.

In a post on X, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

He said that Santhi made his country proud with his contributions to football both at the national and international level, and described his death as a huge loss to the Maldivian sporting community.

إِنَّا ِللهِ وَإِنَّآإِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُون

ކުޅިވަރުގެ ރޮނގުން، ވަކީން ޚާއްޞަކޮށް ފުޓްބޯޅައިގައި ބައިނަލްއަޤްވާމީ އަދި ޤައުމީ ފެންވަރުގައިވެސް ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ ފަޚުރުވެރިވާ ޚިދުމަތްތަކެއް ޤައުމަށް ކޮށްދެއްވާފައިވާ މަޝްހޫރު ފުޓްބޯޅަ ކޯޗު އިޙްސާން ޢަބްދުލްޣަނީ (ސާންތީ) އަވަހާރަވުމަކީ،… pic.twitter.com/nUD9JzqBXw

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) March 22, 2025

Saathi served as assistant coach of the Maldives national football team for close to a decade, during which time they won their first gold medal – in the 2008 SAFF Championship.

He also coached at multiple clubs, including Eagles

Santhi is widely credited with the Eagles’ rise to the top tier of Maldivian football. He was forced to transfer his duties as head coach of the club to Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan) in June 2023, after his heath condition deteriorated and he had to undergo surgery.

Beyond coaching, Santhi also served as the technical director of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM).

His funeral is scheduled for after the Dhuhr prayer on Sunday at the Islamic Center in Male’.