Women's football back after 10 years: First match to Victory

Women's football sees a comeback after 10 years as the FAM Women's League kicked off yesterday evening at the Henveiru Stadium, where Victory won against TC with a score of 6-0.

Victory's Uzbekistan forward Leyla Rustullaeva secured the lead for her team, scoring four goals in total.

The other two goals were scored by Maldivian player Fathimath Saina and Uzbekistan's Rushaniya Safina.

This is the first match, in 10 years, that has been played in an 11-a-side league for women's football.

The last time FAM had organized an 11-sided league for women's football was in 2015. Four teams competed in said tournament, with New Radiant claiming the spot of champion after beating Dhivehi Sifainge Club (DSC) in the final with a score of 4-1.

This year's league will see six teams compete. Along with Victory and TC, New Radiant, Maziya, Odi and Bis Buru will be competing.

While 11-sided tournaments have not been organized by FAM, certain years have seen mini-football tournaments for women's football with a 9-a-side format.

FAM began the tournament in a league format. As FAM President Ahmed Thoriq has stated in the past, the Women's League will continue every year without interruption. He also said that teams would increase year after year, with the Women's League set to have a Premier Division and a lower-tiered division as well.