Clubs, MNDF, police and SOEs invited to join women’s football revival

Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) has said that teams from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Maldives Police Service, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will be invited to take part in a newly revived national-level women’s football tournament.

FAM is currently the only national sports association that does not hold a women’s division tournament. The last national 11-a-side women’s tournament was held in 2015.

Thoriq said that women’s football will be included in FAM’s upcoming calendar, and that all eligible teams will have the opportunity to participate.

“We are planning to include it in this season’s schedule and will open participation to all clubs across the country,” he said.

“There will be no qualifiers in the first edition. We will include the strongest teams in the structure for the next season. Special priority will be given to the army, police and SOE teams,” he added.

FAM’s constitution mandates the holding of a national women’s football tournament, yet none has been held for nearly 10 years.

The absence of a formal national competition has also meant that no female footballers are considered for the Maldives Sports Awards.

Currently, most players on the national women’s team are affiliated with the MNDF, police, and SOE's. Club Maldives has been the only organizer of regular women’s futsal tournaments.

FAM’s new seasonal calendar will be finalized after the appointment of members to the association’s committees.

Clubs have been invited to submit nominations, with the deadline set for 2:00 pm on Sunday.