FAM mourns 'irreplaceable loss' of football legend Arif (Baka)

Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has said that the death of local football legend and former national team player Mohamed Arif (Baka) is an irreplaceable loss to Maldivian football and the entire sport.

The 38 year old former midfielder of the national football team passed away this evening while receiving treatment at ADK Hospital.

He was rushed to the hospital last night after his health deteriorated three days after arriving in Maldives from Saudi Arabia having completed Hajj amongst the delegation who travelled on the invitation of the Saudi King.

Arif, who is originally from Hithadhoo, Addu City first became recognised at the age of 19 in 2004, while he was still in IFC, a football club in his home island.

Arif, who won the accolade of 'Maldives Best Footballer of the Year' award in 2010 by 'Haveeru', the longest running daily newspaper in the Maldives at the time.

He got the name "Baka" from his former coach Mauroof Ahmed (Maatte), who named him after a foreign midfielder who played for the football club Victory.

After rising through the ranks and making his way to the national team, Baka played a major role in Maldives winning the SAFF Championship held in Maldives and Sri Lanka in 2008.

"Arif is one of the most talented footballers the country has produced in recent times," FAM said in a statement.

"The death of midfielder Mohamed Arif (Baka), an important contributor to Maldives football's greatest achievements in recent times, is an irreplaceable loss to the Maldives football fraternity and the Maldivian sports industry," FAM stated in its Facebook post.