President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has applauded the Maldivian national futsal team's victory against Bhutan yesterday in the SAFF Futsal Championship, which ensures them winning the competition.
In an X post, the President said that the increase in accomplishments in the field of sports by brave Maldivians is a bright spot for the future of the nation.
The President also said that winning first an international competition especially in such dominant form every match is a historical point of pride.
"This is an example of national spirit and determination to never give up and win that is second to none. Once again, I congratulate and thank the skilled and capable players on the national futsal team," said the President.
Maldives has won all five matches they have played:
- First match against Pakistan: 7-1
- Second match against Bangladesh: 6-1
- Third match against India: 5-0
- Fourth match against Nepal: 2-1
- Fifth match against Bhutan: 3-1
Maldives mounted a comeback against Bhutan yesterday, with Abdulla Junaid, Ahmed Hameed and Captain Mohamed Imran scoring for their team.
Maldives' final match will be played on Monday against Sri Lanka.
This is the first win from the national futsal team. The Maldives national football team has won the SAFF Championship twice in the past, which were in 2008 and 2018.
Maldivian futsal players do not have an indoor stadium to play at, with them having played mini football on turf the entire time.
National Men's Futsal team Coach Farrukh Zakirov has said that he hopes futsal in its truest form will be developed after the SAFF Championship. The team had practiced under Zakirov's instruction at the mini-turf for a month in preparation for the first SAFF Futsal Championship. The team left for China afterwards for a 10-day indoor training program.
