K. Kaashidhoo lifted the championship trophy of the Golden Futsal Challenge after beating Hdh. Navaidhoo 4-1 in the final match.
In the fourth minute of the match, Ajulaan Abdul Hannaan secured a lead for Kaashidhoo, only for Navaidhoo's Ahmed Hameed to equalise the score. However, Abdulla Suzeir scored, tilting the score in Kaashidhoo's favour, before Ajulaan scored a third goal. Suzeir, who was named the man of the match, scored the final goal in the very last minutes of the match.
This was the first time both teams played in the championship's finals. Although Naavaidhoo secured a spot at the knockout rounds by winning the atoll and zone championships, Kaashidhoo was the runner up team in both championships.
At the end of the challenge, Naavaidhoo won the best supporting team, with Kaashidhoo winning the fair play title. Kaashidhoo's coach Ali Haisam was also named the best coach, with Ismail Rayan, who played under his guidance, was awarded the most promising player title.
With this, Haisham lifted the championship trophy as both a player and coach. In 2015, he played for the B. Hithaadhoo team which won the tournament. As a coach he led the HA. Utheemu team to victory in both the atoll and zone championships last year. Utheemu also went all the way to the quarter finals under his leadership.
The top scorer of the tournament was Mohamed Shaain from Naavaidhoo. He has scored a total of 14 goals in the tournament. Shaain was injured in the first half of the match and Naavaidhoo's coach, Mohamed Azzam, could not use him for most of the match. Meanwhile, one of the team's most important players, Abdullah Shafiu, also missed the final due to injury.
The top six players of the Golden Football Challenge were Kaashidhoo's goalkeeper Mohamed Saleel, players Abdulla Suzeir and Ajulaan Abdul Hannan as well as Naavaidhoo's Ahmed Hameed and Yameen Mohamed. Gdh. Vadhoo's Ayaz Ahmed was also named amongst the top six.
Kaashidhoo's goalkeeper Saleel won the King of Futsal crown. This was the first time a goalkeeper won the title. He cleverly defended Naavaidhoo's dangerous attacks in the final match as well.
Ahmed Muneer, Ali Nadheem, Ahmed Hassan, Abdullah Afeef and Ali Fahumy were named the best five referees.
Kaashidhoo is the seventh team to win the tournament. Thimarafushi won the tournament three times while Hithaadhoo, B. Eydhafushi, L. Gan, Maafannu and Henveiru also previously won the challenge. A total of 128 islands competed in this year's Golden Football Challenge.
Sign In
