މި ލިޔުން އިނގިރޭސި ބަހަށް ތަރުޖަމާކޮށްދެމެވެ:Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Abdullah Rafi’u, has stated that the quality of the football league has improved in a short period due to the efforts of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) to revive football enthusiasm in the country. The Sports Minister said that after about 8 years without a major football tournament in the Maldives, the current football league is progressing with an improved state of football, thanks to the hard work of FAM’s new board, clubs, and all involved parties.
“Even if someone says there’s no football, everyone would agree. To bring it from that state to a different state, everyone, including the clubs, has worked hard to reach this point. Through intense efforts, the association’s election was successfully held, and the league is now proceeding,” the Minister said. Highlighting FAM’s efforts to revive football, which has been the most popular sport in the Maldives for ages, the Minister stated that FAM’s vision aligning with the Sports Ministry’s vision is a significant progress.
The Minister mentioned that FAM is working hard to enhance football enthusiasm, and the recent match against Sri Lanka showed signs of the previous fervor returning to Maldivian football. “Many people say the quality of the league is improving. Additionally, the association’s plan to hold tournaments in the atolls aligns with our plan. That’s a good thing,” the Minister said.
The Minister noted that the government’s vision is to distribute sports events across different parts of the Maldives instead of concentrating them only in Malé. He praised FAM’s decision to distribute the Atoll Football Tournament across the atolls as a very positive move. He added that this has been well-received in the atolls, and the decision to hold the tournament in four regions, with plans to start soon, is a good sign.
“They have decided to proceed in four regions. So, I would say that for something that was at such a low point for so long, to reach this level in a short time after holding the election is a great success,” the Minister stated. The Minister said that the efforts of the newly elected board to revive football enthusiasm from an organization that was in a difficult situation reflect the desire of the entire football community. Therefore, with the current initiatives led by FAM, the future of football looks very bright, according to the Minister.
The Minister expressed that holding football tournaments that involve the entire country, with matches played in different islands, is very positive and that things are moving in the right direction. FAM, the main football governing body in the Maldives, was normalized by FIFA due to financial misconduct and administrative issues that led to management breakdown. This situation was resolved, and FAM regained its autonomy after the election held on July 26, 2025, where Ahmed Thoriq, Member of Parliament for Mahibadhoo constituency and former national team defender, was elected as FAM’s president with the support of all member clubs.
