According to Football Association of Maldives (FAM), there will be total nine teams participation in this year’s FAM Youth Championship. It is a impressive improvement on the numbers of participants this year unlike there were only four teams playing in the last two years’ tournaments.

In this year’s Youth Championship, Club Eagles, Maziya Sports and Recreation, Club Green Streets, TC Sports Club, Victory Sports Club, New Radiant Sports Club, Da Grande Amigos New Generation (Da G.A.N.G), Foakaidhoo Football Club and Eydhafushi Club will be participating.

TC Sports and Victory is coming back into the tournament after two years miss out, while Eydhafushi will be featuring once again in the youth level. Debuting sides into Youth Championship will be Foakaidhoo Football Club and Da G.A.N.G.

New Radiant appointed new coach to the senior level of football, Muaaviyath Ilham with former experience from interschool tournaments and YDP. Meanwhile, Ahmed Suzair (Kokko) who is Maziya’s senior team assistant coach is set to lead Maziya youth team onto the field.

Coach of Eagles remains the same as last year’s as Ibrahim Saeedh (Kaka) who is also a coaching staff in Eagles senior team will be coaching them. Green Streets appointed former New Radiant assistant coach Ashraf Luthfee (Sampath) as their head coach. Last year’s 2^nd division champion who will be playing first division football for the first time, Da GANG appointed Ahmed Naashid (Naadhu) as their coach. He also coach former and current first division sides such as AYL and Victory respectively.

 Coach of Victory will be their former star player and now rising coach, Mohamed Fareedh (Faritte). Foakaidhoo youth team will be sporting, former B.G.Sports and Eagles Assistant coach Ali Nisthar Mohamed as their coach. Eydhafushi youth meanwhile will be coached by former player Mohamed Zaahidh (Battey).

All the teams have already began the preparations for the tournament as some of the teams have finalized their final squads after conduction numbers of trial sessions to identify players to their respective teams.

It will be an amazing and a more competitive tournament this year as there are good numbers of teams to compete for the title. Moreover each team having experienced and highly qualified coaches as their head coaches, will bring good football on the pitch during the tournament.

Photo: Miharu