Ali Thameem
The Cuarzo Mangrove Island Football Championship 2024 has concluded as the home side Wind Warriors defeated Naifaru Chelsea in the final game by 3-0.
The tie was broken midway through the first half when Naifaru Chelsea conceded an own goal. Strikes from Aisham and Numan (Helmet) in the final minutes of the first and second halves sealed the victory for Wind Warriors.
Aisham’s impressive performance in the final earned him the MOTM of the game. Two more players from Wind Warriors were awarded individual titles; the player of the tournament was awarded to Abdhullah Yaameen (Yaanu), and Iyaan “Chikee” Abdhulla Aleem earned the best goalkeeper award.
Naifaru Chelsea had been the only unbeaten side until the final match. Wind Warriors had suffered their campaign’s sole defeat at the hands of the runner-ups, back in their group-stage confrontation.
The tournament’s top scorer was Naifaru Chelsea’s Ivan Verras, a midfielder from Belarus.
Wind Warriors had made it to the final on a previous occasion, but this is the first time the team managed to lift the champion trophy of TMIFC.
Wind Warriors qualified for this year’s final by defeating Hinnavaru SC, who had travelled north from Lhaviyani alongside Naifaru Chelsea. Hinnavaru SC had an amazing run, qualifying for the semifinals on top of Group A. But the home-side Wind Warriors had outsmarted Hinnavaru SC on penalty shootouts (5-3) after ninety minutes of goalless football could not decide a winner.
Naifaru Chelsea’s semifinal game had ended goalless too, and the game had also been dragged on to penalties after rivals Maafaru FC held on to the clean sheet through to the final whistle.
The semifinals were decided after a two-group round-robin with five teams in each group. Clubs representing islands across Noonu participated; including the semifinalists Maafaru SC, Lhohi FC, Kudafari SC, Maalhendhoo FT, and Manadhoo SC from the atoll’s capital.
At the closing ceremony, the president of Ken’dhikulhudhoo Council revealed that they plan to add a second venue to exhibit the tournament from next year onwards. He also announced that the winner’s prize money would amount to MVR 150,000.
