Once a tonne by popularity now just '2kilo'

His goal that sparked off wild celebrations never seen in the history of Maldives

'Twokilo’ may be the name that goes by in football circles but that is not the case with the weight of his talent. His popularity skyrocketed with a goal that brought Maldives its first ever haul of gold in a regional competition.  He became an instant superstar in a place we never had many of such to call upon. A deadly piledriver to the bottom corner of Indian goal and since then has stamped his name on the psyche of nation. Football-crazy fans went into frenzy hitherto unheard of, a weeklong fiesta unraveled its own life on the roads of Male’, happiness became the new manta of all Maldivians. They sang and danced, he became the hero of country. That was Mukthar Naseer of 2008 for you.

Since then he seem to have shed all the kilos in terms of his form and popularity, so conspicuous are it by the absence of the talent that made him such a telling difference. Yes, he is still playing football for Victory but he is not the same Mukthar that you saw so elegantly in SAFF Championship. He seem to have slowed down, those magnificent runs that he so robustly make through defenses, leaving the defenders in a whiff are  nowhere to be seen. Is this the beginning of the inevitable decline of an amazing footballer who has his name engraved in gold letters? Reportedly the most expensive player when Victory splashed a fortune to procure his services in 2009 this certainly is not good omen for their fans.