AA. Atoll sees "major football" return after many years

The Alif Alif Atoll Council has decided on conducting an atoll-wide football tournament after years of discontinuation.

The tournament will have 11 teams and will be featured in the "Ari Uthuru" Kulhivaru Foavahi. Alif Alif Atoll Council President Hussain Arsalan said that the council hosts various activities in their yearly "Ari Uthuru" Kulhivaru Foavahi.

Last year had volleyball and handball tournaments. However, he estimates that they haven't had an atoll-wide major football tournament in the last 10 years.

They have announced that they have also signed an agreement with 90 Plus to ensure the tournament comes to fruition.

The council has said that the winner of the "Ari Uthuru" Kulhivaru Foavahi tournament will receive a cash prize of MVR 50,000, a cup and a slot in the Gold Cup.

Arsalan said that out of the 8 islands in the atoll, 6 have already signed up for the tournament. The "Ari Uthuru" Kulhivaru Foavahi Women's category will have a handball tournament. Arsalan went on to say that five handball teams have signed up.

Arsalan attributes an 11-team football tournament not being held in their atoll to a lack of a large turfed stadium.

Many islands in the atoll currently have mini turf stadiums, with foot pitch stadium projects having been finished in some islands.

"One of the reasons that a major football tournament hasn't been held here might be because we don't have a stadium to support such a game. Some of the stadiums that were in construction from the previous administration have been finished and are currently in use," said Arsalan.

One of these islands is Rasdhoo, where the "Ari Uthuru" Kulhivaru Foavahi is set to be held. The football and handball atoll tournaments will also be held at Rasdhoo next month.

Alif Alif Atoll used to be quite popular when it came to football. Some Alif Alif atoll football players have even played for the national team.

Maalhos was in the top four of the Minivan Championship, and has also competed in the 2016 Maldivian Premier League as well. The coach at the time was 90 Plus shareholder Ali Nisthar Mohamed.

90 Plus has decided to open up 28 slots for the Gold Cup. 18 of those teams will be decided via qualifiers tournaments held in 18 atolls. Eight out of the rest of the 10 slots will consist of the top 8 teams from last year's Gold Cup, as they automatically qualify due to their placements in the tournament.

The teams in the 8 slots are: Champion B. Eydhafushi, Runner-up Addu and Semi-Final contenders Male', R. Alifushi, Fuvahmulah, K. Guraidhoo, Lh. Naifaru and K. Maafushi.

The last two slots were set aside for Kulhudhuffushi City and Thinadhoo City on an invitation basis.

The two cities were two of the five cities that didn't take part in the tournament that included in islands and cities.