Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu has stated that efforts to revive football in the Maldives have shown positive progress over the past 104 weeks, despite many questioning whether the sport could be successfully restored.
Speaking to PSM News, the Minister said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is committed to ensuring that football is once again considered an exciting and competitive sport in the Maldives, and restoring the sport to its former glory. While the sport faced significant challenges over recent years, the government had to work hard to revive the sport after taking office, he said.
According to the Minister, the restoration process involved consulting football clubs, seeking guidance from FIFA and support from former football legends. The Minister acknowledged that reviving football was a difficult task, but expressed optimism that the sport is slowly being revitalised.
Highlighting the successful holding of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) elections following the establishment of a normalisation committee with FIFA assistance, the Minister described it as a key achievement. He said tournaments have resumed in Male’ City and the atolls following the elections, with the women’s league restarted after nearly a decade. This reflects FAM’s efforts to provide equal opportunities for women in football, he added.
The Minister expressed special thanks to the President for his cooperation and support in these efforts.