Kudahuvadhoo team manager Ismail Faris has expressed concerns that local football, especially atoll tournaments, may lose its appeal despite the popularity of international football among the public.
Drawing a parallel to the decline of Pakistani football, Faris said, "What happened to Pakistani football has happened to Maldivian football."
Faris criticized the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) for concentrating decision making power in the Male' area, stating that this has led to the erosion of football’s spirit in many islands.
He said that the neglect from FAM has caused many islands to shift their focus to mini football (futsal) tournaments instead.
Faris noted that fewer people are investing in football in islands, and many private associations and island councils have given up on traditional football tournaments in favor of futsal.
Kudahuvadhoo has also faced challenges in preparing for the upcoming Gold Cup, with the island’s football spirit not as strong as it was during their victory in the 2017 Minivan Championship.
Despite the appointment of experienced coach Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan) and the team's strong performance at the time, Faris said the current team lacks the same support and investment.
“The strong team we had during the Minivan Championship is no longer here,” Faris said.
"There are fewer people to invest in the team, and the players who participated in the tournament are no longer available." As a result, Kudahuvadhoo formed a team largely made up of Kudahuvadhoo residents who now live in Male'.
Kudahuvadhoo is preparing for next year’s futsal tournament, Faris said.
“We wanted to participate in the Gold Cup, even if in a modest way, to prevent the spirit of football from disappearing," Faris said.
"I hope to have more time to prepare for next year's tournament," he added.
Faris said that many islands now only host mini football or futsal tournaments, with traditional football events becoming rarer.
Kudahuvadhoo has managed to hold a football tournament for the past three years, thanks to efforts from the island’s council and Kudahuvadhoo Sports Club.
However, Faris emphasized that many of the island's best football players cannot participate in the tournament due to employment and other activities.
Despite this, Faris believes that there are still talented players in Kudahuvadhoo who could perform in the First Division of the Maldives. He said that players often choose to participate in futsal tournaments instead of football leagues because they offer better financial incentives.
"We had a player from our island who excelled in the Minivan Championship but eventually turned to football tournaments that pay better," he said.
One of the key players for Kudahuvadhoo in the Gold Cup is former TC captain Ahmed Rilwan (Ben), who will play in his first match at Galolhu Stadium in nearly a year against Fuvahmulah City.
The match will start at 21:00 hrs, and will be broadcast live by PSM.
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