Mohamed Arif (Baka)'s funeral to be held after Fajr prayers

Funeral arrangements of local football legend and former midfielder of the national football team Mohamed Arif (Baka) have been announced.

According to the funeral announcement, Arif's funeral prayer will be held after Fajr (dawn) prayer on June 26 at Masjid al Zaid bin Thabit (Sahara Mosque) in Hulhumalé.

The 38 year old passed away today while receiving treatment in ADK Hospital's ICU for what reports have described as high fever and flu like symptoms shortly after arriving in the country following the completion of the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

However, the cause of his death has not yet been revealed by authorities.

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.

Since then, he has become one of the most prominent figures in the Maldivian football scene and played a major role in Maldives securing the SAFF Championship both in 2008 and 2018.