WHEN you think of the island of the Maldives, immediately you picture white sandy beaches, clear blue seas and a scorching sun.
A paradisal holiday destination, it's a retreat for the A-list and royalty – think Posh and Becks, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Kate Moss.
It doesn't scream football. However, there's an Englishman trying to change all of that.
East Londoner Judan Ali, 46, was appointed technical director for the Football Association of Maldives in November last year.
His job is to improve the state of football in the South Asian country, ranked 155th in the world, from grassroots to senior level for boys and girls.
Ali, who had a spell coaching at the La Masia Academy of Barcelona, has been hired on a 10-year contract to shape the way football is practiced in the country.
The Maldives could qualify for Qatar 2022, if they beat China, Syria and then the Philippines.
However, he must find a manager to take on a short-term coaching role from over 150 applications from some of the leading names in football.
"My first real task is to recruit a first team coach, because the current coach's contract expires in March," Ali told SunSport EXCLUSIVELY.
"I've monitored the players over the last four, five years. They are technically gifted, very Spanish in style, almost Barcelona-esque.
"For me, looking at who to recruit, it's got to be someone who will bring flair and get the best out of the players.
"I've spoken with Rivaldo, who has just completed his Uefa A licence. I've also spoken to Peter Reid, and I'm due to chat with Bryan Robson soon.
"Julio Cesar, Maniche, Nolberto Solano are also in the frame. These are people who are proactively talking to me.
"Interest has been incredible. I've had about 150 CVs in. But I'm not selling it as a glamorous holiday.
"You're going to have a fantastic lifestyle when you're not coaching. But the bottom line is this could be fantastic for your CV."
PART-TIMERS
With temperates rising to over 30 degrees celsius during the day, Maldives players often train every evening.
They are part-time footballers who have day-jobs, including being fishermen.
"I've got my work cut out, because it's about developing grassroots," Ali revealed.
"If I was to compare the national team to English football, they're semi-professional. The players have day jobs.
"They train in the evenings, because of the hot weather, every night. Then, they go to work in the morning, and that's their life.
The month of March sees the completion of a football development centre in the capital Malé, that'll be used to house 100 kids, feed and train them to, hopefully, be the next big thing.
MALDIVES KIDS LOVE FOOTBALL
Boys and girls grow up on Premier League football in the Maldives, and have dreams in emulating their heroes. Now, they will have the opportunity to hone their own skills.
"That's what sold this job to me," Ali explained.
"There is a huge football culture here. And we've got a development centre opening in March for around 100 kids who will live on the site, be fed and coached to a high standard.
"Yaya Toure visited us last month and he was wowed. If we can get eight of these centres around the islands, who knows what could happen in five, six years time?
"Perhaps the Maldives could become a powerhouse for the future?"
But first, to the job in hand – qualifying for Qatar 2022.
Ali said: "We need someone who knows how to motivate these players, get them up for the World Cup qualifier in March against China, and then anything is possible.
"If we beat China, Syria and the Philippines we will qualify for Qatar 2022. That would be an incredible start for this proud country."
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