After nearly a decade without a major football event, the Alif Alif Atoll Council has announced the revival of an atoll-wide football tournament, featuring 11 teams as part of the “Ari Uthuru” Kulhivaru Foavahi.
Alif Alif Atoll Council President Hussain Arsalan confirmed that this year's Kulhivaru Foavahi sports festival will include the long-anticipated football tournament, alongside a women’s handball competition. He noted that while previous editions have featured volleyball and handball, this is the first large-scale football event in over 10 years.
To ensure the tournament's successful execution, the council has signed a partnership agreement with sports organization 90 Plus. The winning team will receive MVR 50,000, a championship trophy, and an automatic qualification slot in the Gold Cup tournament.
So far, six out of the eight islands in the atoll have registered teams for the football tournament. The women’s handball event has already attracted five teams.
Arsalan attributed the long absence of major football events in the atoll to the lack of a full-sized turf stadium. However, recent infrastructure improvements, including completed football pitch projects in several islands, have paved the way for the tournament’s return. The island of Rasdhoo—now equipped with suitable facilities—will host both the football and handball tournaments next month.
Alif Alif Atoll has a rich footballing legacy, with some of its players having gone on to represent the national team. Notably, Maalhos was among the top four in the Minivan Championship and even competed in the 2016 Maldivian Premier League under the guidance of Ali Nisthar Mohamed, a current shareholder of 90 Plus.
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