As the Maldives National Women’s Futsal Team departs for the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship in Thailand, Captain Fathimath Shaliya has called upon the public to extend the same level of confidence and encouragement to the women’s team as they do for the men’s. Highlighting that this marks the inaugural opportunity for a Maldivian women’s national futsal team, Shaliya noted that while training on artificial turf and limited international exposure present challenges, the squad remains thoroughly prepared for the competition.
The tournament, featuring seven nations, will see the Maldives face India—one of the region’s most experienced teams—in their opening match. Shaliya expressed that the opportunity to train on an indoor pitch prior to the game would be a significant advantage for the team. She remains optimistic about their prospects, citing the exceptional talent within the squad. Under the guidance of Coach Athif Mohamed, the 14-player roster is determined to deliver a strong performance and bring pride to the nation on the regional stage.
