Sidibari
The pre-season tournament organized by the Football Association of Maldives is set to start with six teams by the end of this week.
Three teams from first-division and three from second division will compete in the League Cup. From the top division, Maziya SR, Odi SC and TC Sports Club have participated. Victory SC, who awaits their return to the Dhivehi Premier League, has withdrawn from the pre-season tournament.
The three second-division clubs to be featured in this tournament are New Radiant, Mahibadhoo and JJ Sports.
USD 50,000 allocated to FAM’s impromptu pre-season tournament
Announcing the ad-hoc tournament earlier this April, FAM cited preparations for the upcoming national team fixtures – the SAFF Championship – as one of the purposes of this competition. The SAFF Championship has since been delayed to next year.
Currently governed by a normalization committee, the Football Association of Maldives has moved the season’s kick-off date multiple times. Dhivehi Premier League is now set to start in August, after FIFA ordered not to initiate the season without due legal process, one of which is amending FAM’s Articles of Association. An Extra Ordinary Congress is being planned for mid-May, with the agenda to make the necessary amendments.
FIFA does not object to a tournament like this being held outside the football calendar, given that its results do not influence club rankings and relegation/promotion status.
