Club Maldives has announced the first futsal award in the Maldives, set to be presented in July.
Club Maldives has announced the first futsal award in the Maldives, set to be presented in July.
Despite futsal's significant presence in the country, players have long voiced grievances over the absence of recognition through awards. Concerns were raised during last year's Maldives Sports Awards regarding the lack of a futsal category.
The title of best futsal player is typically given at the AFC awards ceremony, where last year, Iran's Muslim Oladghobad won the accolade for the best futsal player in Asia.
The many futsal tournaments in the country are primarily conducted on outdoor courts, although futsal is typically an indoor game. Teams have participated in the AFC Futsal Qualifiers over the past two years, utilizing limited indoor practice facilities at the social center. However, these facilities do not meet FIFA's futsal standards.