Ali Thameem
Football Association of Maldives have completed rolling out the nominations for the twelve awards of this Thursday’s FAM Awards 2026.
The award which is already decided is the title of top scorer, which was secured by Ali Fasir, who scored a combined 22 goals for club and country. By the end of the DPL season, Fasir was tied with Mohamed Naaim and Hudson Jesus of Buru Sports Club, but added to his tally in New Radiant’s road to FA Cup victory, and by goals he scored for the national team.
Nominees for the Best Referee are Javiz Mohamed, Shathir Abdulla, Sinan Hussain.
The Best Coach nominations comprises of Ali Suzain, Andres Garcia Soler, and Luiz Manuel Hernandez Martin.
The three clubs they managed respectively – New Radiant, Maziya Sports and Recreation, and Odi Sports Club – are the ones nominated for ‘Best Club’ of the year. Ali Suzain took the helm of a resurgent New Radiant at the start of last season. New Radiant went on to finish 3rd in Dhivehi Premier League, and win the FA Cup under Suzain. Last season was also the season which Odi Sports Club made themselves known to the Maldivian public, as the top-flight debutants played with a 73.4% unbeaten record in becoming runner-up of the DPL and later winning the President’s Cup trophy. Maziya Sports Club, managed by Luiz Manuel Hernandez, saw an unbeaten run of all eighteen game weeks to win Dhivehi Premier League. The Green Boys had won Charity Shield and the FAM League Cup earlier in the season.
Neither of the three coaches currently manage a top-flight club. Suzain stepped down as New Radiant coach after the season ended. Luizma Hernandez and Andres Garcia, both Spaniards, also resigned ahead of the new season.
Foreign players from the three clubs were nominated for best foreign player award. Sergio Mendiguchias Iglesias of Maziya, Milos Lacny of Victory Sports Club, Hudson Dias de Jesus of Buru Sports Club, along with New Radiant attacking duo Guilherme Da Gomes Silva (Da Silva) and Alhaji Gero, who now plays for Victory, are the nominees for the award.
For the Promising Player award, three out of the five nominees were players who played for the debutants Odi Sports Club. They are Abdhulla Looth Ibrahim, Ahuzam Rasheed, and Muzdhaan Hassan. Mohamed Ilan Imran of Maziya, and Ethan Ibrahim Zaki of Club Valencia (who now plays for New Radiant) were also nominated.
Ilan, Ahuzam and Ethan were also among the nine nominees for fans’ favorite player of the year. The rest are Ahmed Aiham (Maziya), Mohamed Faisal (Buru/New Radiant), Hussain Shareef (Maziya), Ali Fasir (New Radiant), Hamza Mohamed (Maziya/Victory), and Mohamed Shafeeu (Odi/Victory).
Faisal, Shareef and Shafeeu were also nominated for best goalkeeper of the year, alongside Mohamed Ashwan of Club Eagles, who now plays for Odi Sports Club.
Five futsal stars were nominated for Futsal Player of the Year award. They are Abdhulla Shaafiu (Shaappe), Ahmed Hameed (Ammadey), Ahmed Rahil Rasheed (Raakko), Mohamed Imran (Immi) and goalkeeper Zaidhan Ahmed. All five played an integral part in Maldives winning the SAFF Futsal Championship back in January.
With the return of women’s club football, female footballers are also being recognized at the FAM Awards. Two New Radiant players, Mariyam Noora and Maeesha Abdhul Hannan, were nominated, along with two Maziya players Aminath Leeza and Shahfa Shiuth. Fathimath Shaliya of Odi Sports Club was also nominated.
The men’s footballer of the year nominees are Ali Fasir, Hamza Mohamed, Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain, Mohamed Naaim, and Maziya’s Ahmed Aiham.
Hamza, Mahudhee and Naaim were also nominated for Goal of the Year award, alongside Hussain Niyaz Mohamed of Victory Sports Club.
Winners of the four regional leagues were nominated for best regional club award. They are South League winner Gadhdhoo RC, North League winnner Dhidhdhoo, Central League winner Huraa, and Male’ League winner Biss Buru.
