Hussain Zareer (Hussainbe), owner and head of Kaafu Atoll Huraa’s Hurriyya Sports Club, was recognized at the Maldives Sports Awards yesterday.
Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu presented him with a Special Recognition Award at the ceremony organised by the Ministry of Sports.
In a statement following the honour, Hurriyya Sports Club said Hussain “deserves one of the biggest credits” for the club’s success and continuity.
Hussain has led the club since its establishment in 1980 under the name Huraa Jamiyyathul Hurriyya. Alongside organizing social events to raise funds, he has also managed the football team for decades.
Under his leadership, Hurriyya competed in the first division between 1996 and 2006. The club won the POMIS Cup (President of Maldives Invitational Soccer Cup) in 1999 and 2000 and secured the league championship in the 1999 national tournament. The team also won the Dhiraagu Dhivehi League title in 2005 and represented the Maldives in the AFC Cup in 2006.
Hurriyya claimed the Atolls Championship four times and won multiple national titles, including the National Championship, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the FA Cup.
Hussain also played a key role in nurturing young talent. At the club’s own expense, he facilitated sending promising players from Huraa to Male' and supported their inclusion in the Maldives Under-19 squad for the 1994 FIFA Youth World Cup qualifiers.
Among them were Ali Shiham (Ayya), Mausoom Abdul Ghafoor (Maasey), Abdullah Ibrahim (Abulho) and goalkeeper Ishaaq Eesa, who later became key members of the senior national team. They were part of the Maldives team that won silver at the 1997 SAFF Championship, with Ali Shiham and Abdullah Ibrahim later named among the country’s best players.
Moosa Manik (Kudamoosa), who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the same ceremony, and his brother Mohamed Nadeem also played for Hurriyya during Hussain’s tenure. Moosa later went on to coach the team.
In recognition of his services to sport, the government awarded Hussain the Public Service Encouragement Award in 1999.
