From Rival to Ally: Suzain’s Stunning Switch to New Radiant

Years ago, if someone had told a Maldivian football supporter that Ali Suzain had joined New Radiant, they might not have believed it. Suzain was always known as Victory Sports Club’s man, deeply rooted in the identity of New Radiant Sports Club’s fiercest rivals.

He was among those who led the verbal battles against the club from across the divide.

Today, when the once-fiery rivalry of Maldivian football has lost much of its intensity, his move may not carry the same weight.

Yet this remains an important chapter in the country’s football history. What makes his decision even more fascinating is the timing. Suzain joined New Radiant in a season when every step forward carries enormous value. The club will possibly return to the Dhivehi Premier League this season after several years in the second division, and each success they achieve now will mark another milestone in their quest to reclaim the top.

After signing, Suzain told Mihaaru News that the rivalry with New Radiant is now in the past and that his move was purely a professional decision. He explained that taking charge of a club like New Radiant and winning titles would strengthen his CV.

He also said that the project offered to him was convincing, pointing to the two-year contract and the strong squad the club had put together.

“My full focus now is on bringing success to New Radiant,” Suzain said.

Suzain’s connection with Victory runs deep. Born in Galolhu, the ward that Victory belongs to, he was not only a former player but also a legendary coach and a loyal servant of the club. He was instrumental in recruiting players and raising funds, and Victory always came first to him. There was even a time when, as assistant coach of Victory, he turned down the opportunity to become head coach of K. Huraa Hurriyaa simply because he wanted to remain with his club. His devotion naturally fueled the rivalry with New Radiant.

That rivalry reached its peak during the 2006 President’s Cup final when Suzain was Victory’s head coach. The match was tied 2-2 when referee Ahmed Ameez refrained from showing a card to Victory goalkeeper Imran Mohamed but punished New Radiant’s Ali Ashfaq (Dhagandey) after a dispute. The decision angered New Radiant fans, who threw bottles and objects onto the pitch, forcing the game to be suspended. The Football Association of Maldives later ordered a replay behind closed doors.

When New Radiant chairman Ali Azim said playing without supporters would not affect Victory since they did not have many supporters, Suzain retorted that it was true Victory did not have fans who threw bottles onto the field and caused unrest. That remark only deepened the hostility New Radiant fans had towards him, and from then on their chants from the stands were often directed at him.

The following year, even New Radiant’s German coach, Gerd Friedrich, clashed with Suzain during a press conference, prompting the Football Association to hold separate briefings for each coach to avoid further conflict.

Despite all this, some within New Radiant still dreamed of bringing Suzain to the club. Among them was the founder, Mohamed Waheed, famously known as Queen Waheed. Veteran sports journalist Abdulla Azmeen recalled in a Facebook post that Waheed once told him that signing Suzain was one of his unfulfilled dreams, precisely because of his long-standing rivalry with New Radiant.

After Suzain finally signed, he revealed that Waheed had called him the very next morning to welcome him.

 “I was very happy to know that I have the blessing of New Radiant fans,” Suzain said, reflecting on the unexpected turn in his career.

Although New Radiant’s blue colours may feel foreign to him, his ties to the club are not entirely new. Two of his brothers played for New Radiant: Mohamed Nazeeh, who was a key player between 1998 and 2000, and Ibrahim Sinaz, known as Sina, who featured in 2001. Now, nearly 25 years later, Suzain himself has joined the club after achieving success with other teams.

Given his history and everything that came before, Suzain’s decision to wear New Radiant’s blue is nothing short of remarkable, a twist of fate that adds a special page to the story of Maldivian football.