Gold Cup Qualifying commences with Laamu tournament

Gold Cup Qualifying has commenced, with the first event being the 'Laamaseelu Laamu' Football Championship in Laamu atoll.

Ninety Plus, organizers of Gold Cup have announced that 28 teams will be competing in this year's Gold Cup, with 18 of these selected through the qualifying phase.

Qualifying tournaments will be held in 18 atolls. In Laamu atoll, the team will be selected through the Laamaseelu Laamu Football Championship organized by the atoll council.

Seven teams are playing in the Laamaseelu Laamu Football Championship, held at the Zone Stadium in L. Gan. These are four teams representing the four wards of Gan, and teams from Fonadhoo, Dhan'bidhoo and Mundoo.

In the first match of the championship held yesterday, Island Youth United - representing Gan's Mukurimagu ward - played against QM Sports from Fonadhoo. Island Youth United won the match with a score of 4-nil.

In the Gold Cup, eight of the remaining ten slots are reserved for the best eight teams from last year's tournament. These are champion B. Eydhafushi, runner-up Addu, Male', R. Alifushi, Fuvahmulah, K. Guraidhoo, Lh. Naifaru and K. Maafushi.

The two slots left are reserved for Kulhudhuhfushi City and Thinadhoo City, who are included on an invitation basis as they are the only two cities who did not play in last year's Gold Cup.