Maziya and Eagles players notified not to play in Gold Cup

Maziya Sports and Recreation Club (Maziya) and Club Eagles have notified their players to not play in the ongoing Ninety Plus Gold Cup.

Maziya has been the only Maldivian club that continued its activities since club football went into hiatus following the end of premier league in December last year. The team also played in the group stage of AFC Challenge last month. However, all three matches were placed as away games.

In the Gold Cup, Baa atoll Eydhafushi's team has included TC Sports Club's captain Mohamed Ajufaan and Maziya's Hamza Mohamed (Hampu) and Haisham Hassan (Bidi). However, following the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) normalisation committee's announcement that a new season would commence in January, the team has notified its players not to play in the Gold Cup or any other competition.

Maziya is also the only team which pays its players during the off season as well.

Club Eagles also followed suit with Maziya's decision against allowing players to play in the Gold Cup.

The tournament, which allows two away players in each team, is endorsed by the Sports Ministry. The first match of the tournament started yesterday, with Fuvahmulah City and Dhaalu atoll Kuda Huvadhoo facing off. Both teams had first division players from the respective islands.

Fuvahmulah won the match with United Victory (UV)'s Ali Shamaal Abdulla and Moosa Azeem Hassan's goals. TC Sport's Club's Mohamed Saad Nizar was also on the squad. Jumail Jameel from Buru Sports, Mohamed Saif from Green Streets and Ahmed Rilwan (Ben) from TC Sports Club played for the Kuda Huvadhoo team.

The Malé City team of the tournament incudes Eagles' Rilwan Waheed (Riley) and Abdulla Sameeh Moosa. Ibrahim Mahudhy Hussain (Feydhoo Ibbe) and Ahmed Rizwan (Rizey) as well as Ismail Eesa (Messi) will play for the Addu City team while Nisham Mohamed Rasheed is listed on the Baa atoll Eydhafushi team.

However, Eagles informed its players that action would be taken against contracted players who play in the 'Gold Cup' matches.

With club football on hold, many first division players have been playing in other local tournaments.

Some team officials participating in the Gold Cup have said that the tournament has revived hope for atoll football, which was neglected by FAM. Gold Cup organisers Ninety Plus said that 17 team participating in the tournament despite the short notice, revives hope for atoll football.