Maldives goalkeeper Mohamed Faisal is SAFF Suzuki Cup's most valuable player.

Faisal(Fai) won the best player award after helping Maldives win the competition. fai got the award of $10,000 for being the most valuable player of the tournament. Maldives won the SAFF Suzuki cup with a 2-1 win over India. This is the second time Maldives won the competition. In 2008 Maldives beat India 1-0 to lift the cup. Maldives beat group A leaders Nepal in the semi-final to qualify to the final match to win it again against India tonight.

"I dedicate this award for the people of Maldives, for your trust and support" Faisal wrote in his personal Facebook page. He also thanked those who had supported him throughout his career including coaches, players, management staff, those who had encouraged him and his family.

It was Faisal that kept a consistent performance throughout for a Maldives side that started poorly early in the tournament.

Maldives had a very poor start to the tournament, first a goal-less draw against Sri Lanka and a 2-0 defeat to India. Only a toss of a coin ensured Maldives qualify to the semi-finals. 

In the draw against Sri Lanka Fai was the best player for Maldives. Like his counterpart Sujan Perera of Sri Lanka, in the first game it was the goalkeepers that kept their teams in the game. both the goalkeepers of Maldives and Sri Lanka are trained by the same man. Maldives and Club Eagles goalkeeper coach Aslam Abdul Raheem. "just wait and see the difference Maldivian goalkeepers will show in the upcoming SAFF Championships" Aslam said talking to the press earlier this year.

In the 3-0 semi final win against Nepal, Maldives took the lead early on and had to battle hard to keep the resilient Nepalese team at bay. Fai was instrumental in keeping a clean sheet in the semi-final. 

In all four of the Maldives games, Faisal had been a rock behind the defense, The New Radiant man's best ever performances for the Maldives.

Photo: ImagesMV