UAE Olympic hero Khalid Essa has urged Majed Nasser to reconsider his decision to retire, suggesting UAE football would be the losers if he does walk away from the game.
Al Wasl goalkeeper Nasser revealed his decision to quit on football show Game Over, saying that he intended to retire from football “completely” following the fall-out from his slap on Al Ahli coach Quique Sanchez Flores after their Etisalat Cup clash on Sunday night.
The 27-year-old UAE international was handed a 17 game ban by the UAE Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee along with a Dh30,000 fine. Nasser was also suspended indefinitely by his club, pending an investigation of the incident which is still on-going.
Wasl officials plan to meet with their keeper this week in a bid to change his mind, and that is a sentiment echoed by Al Jazira keeper Essa.
The 22-year-old, in goal as the UAE Under-23s secured a 3-2 win in Uzbekistan that ensured their qualification for the London Olympics on Wednesday, has worked closely with Nasser since breaking into the senior national team at the start of the season.
He believes the UAE would be losing one of their best keepers, and someone who has helped him develop his own game.
“Yes, Majed made a mistake but we cannot forget that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the UAE, if he’s not No1 in the UAE,” Essa said. “He has given a lot to the national team. I think that if he’s serious about this decision it’s a loss for UAE football.”
Asked if he wanted to see Nasser put his gloves on again, Essa, who was yesterday honoured alongside Jazira team-mates Khamis Esmail and Waleid Al Yammhi by the club for the achievement with the Olympic side, said: “I wish because I have learned a lot from him.”
Earlier yesterday afternoon, Wasl released a statement which outlined their stance on the situation and left the door open for a return to football for their keeper.
The club also reiterated their assertion that the punishment handed down to the 27-year-old was too harsh, and described Nasser as a “national asset”.
The statement read: “Al Wasl Football Club’s management is surprised from Majed Nasser’s recent comment about his decision to retire from football but at the same time the management understand his frustration and the feelings he is going through following the 17 match ban that he received.
“The Disciplinary Committee’s decision is indeed harsh and could potentially hinder or even end any football player’s career and more so a goalkeeper’s.
“Al Wasl Football Club’s management confirm that they will do all that is possible to convince Majed Nasser to retract his retirement decision. Majed Nasser is a valuable national asset not just to Al Wasl but also to UAE football as a whole.”
