In 2007, I joined Iskandhar School for my primary school studies. Joining primary school was exciting. I was looking for the day for the inter-class football tournaments. During the time period, I was one of the outstanding players of my age. That year, my class got champions and I was selected as the best player of the tournament. During the seven years of my primary school, I was nominated as the best five players for seven consecutive years and led my class to champions four of the seven times in the competition.

In 2010, during the school holiday break, I left for Singapore to join a football camp organized by the Manchester United soccer school. In the football camp, I went through daily challenges and practices to improve and master my skills to become an exceptional football player. I fell in love with the game and was really into it. For a second year, during the same holiday break in the consecutive year I experienced the camp again and was nominated as one of the best five players from all around the world. In the end, my time spent in the camps paid of really well as in 2012, I was awarded captaincy to lead my school football team in the interschool football competition.

I played a total of four years of interschool competition from 2011 until 2014. The first year was the most success I got as a team and the last year was the most success I got individually. During the last two years of my interschool, I scored a total of 16 goals, assisting 22 goals.

If someone have asked me who was the toughest opponent during the competitions, I would have to pick Jamaaluddin due to the rivalry. Moreover, there were teams that I liked to play and one of them was Imaaduddin. My team was down 2-0 and came back to win 5-2. I scored a hattrick in that game against them assisting two goals. That was one of the historic games I played during the interschool competitions.

Inter-school was basically a huge step for me to develop and get experience from the matches. I remember feeling ecstatic and how proud my family was of me. During the years under my captaincy, I led the team into many happy moments and victories. The next year at the age of 13, I graduated from primary school...

BoalhaMV asked on request of Zaan, added few words from 3 coaches that worked with Zaan.

Zaan's coach Yoosuf Azim, former National player and Iskandar school coach says: "Zaan is a very disciplined player who is very committed to improving himself. Sometimes during final matches he feels nervous as the who team usually depends on him. I would like to see him play in the National team and the top teams in the Maldives"

"Zaan came to me at the age of 11 or 12. He is a naturally talented player, all we could do is try to polish him. I have done individual training wit him as well to improve some aspects of his already very good technical ability and his enthusiasm for learning. Zaan doesn't talk much in during the drills/ practices but like all good players he has his fun during the waters breaks etc. I appreciate the respect Zaan has for myself, other coaches and all players. If he continues as he is, He will become a huge player for Maldives. I would to see him play abroad and come to join the National team" said Hamdullah Fernando, speaking to BoalhaMV about Zaan. Coach Hamdu has worked with most senior coaches in Maldives. He has been instrumental in developing football in the Maldives. Zaan worked with Coach Hamdu in the Early Touch Football Academy. ETFA is owned by Zaan's uncle the Legend of Maldvian football Bodu Heena (Heena Ahmed Saleem)

"I met Zaan in the beginning of of my career at the ETFA also the under 14 National team working as an assistant to Coach Ihusaan Abdul Ghani. Zaan was the under14 National captain. There is no question about his talent. This batch was one of the best batches even according to Saanthi (Coach Ihusaan). What I was impressed most about Zaan was his discipline and respect for others. I was the coach of Arabiyya school then, and i appreciate the humility Zaan showed after beating us and other matches too. This was very mature for a 13 year old(back then).  i would like to Thank you Zaan for the respect and friendship, and the request to write this about him. I hope to see him become one of the best footballers and an awesome human", Ali Nisthar Mohamed, who worked with Zaan in the under 14 National team and the Early Touch Football Academy.

Photo: courtesy Ismail Zaan Amir and BUGGEE Photography