Ali Thameem
The new format of league football is the first of its kind, and until now, there has never been a pathway from Atoll football to the top league, says FAM president Ahmed Thariq.
Under the FAM’s new league structure developed by Tom and his newly elected EXCO, “Every Atoll from Haa Alifu to Addu will compete in an intra-atoll tournament, with the opportunity to qualify for a regional league”, said Thariq in his appearance on the latest episode of Kulhivaru Vindhu program on PSM.
The biggest problem is that it has been a very long time since any kind of FAM-sanctioned atoll tournament has been held. And the fact that the Dhivehi Premier League has been ground to a halt for the time it has, is the main reason for the standstill in football, reiterated Tom.
Highlighting that the spirit of football still alive and well among the public, Tom emphasized the importance of inclusion of Atolls and the islands in the new nationwide framework.
The DPL will resume after 21 months this September, and the Second Division will start in the last week of March 2026. As for the Atoll qualifiers, Tom says the way to move forward with the tournaments and the regional leagues will become clear once the participants are known.
How the new system works
According to the Atoll Championship timeline published on Gazette by the FAM last week, the southern, central and northern regions will play out atoll championship from October till February.
The North region – consisting of teams from Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, and Lhaviyani – will play its atoll championships from 1st October to 30th November.
The Central Region – consisting of teams from Kaafu, South Ari, North Ari, Vaavu, Meemu, Faafu and Dhaalu – will play the atoll championships from 15th November to 30th December.
The South Region, consisting of teams from Thaa, Laamu, South Huvadhu, North Huvadhu, Fuvahmulah and Addu, will compete from December 1st to 15th February.
To qualify for the regional league, top two teams from each Atoll will first have to play a round-robin zone league, which involves the champions and runner-ups of either three or four atolls.
The top two from the league will qualify for the ultimate regional league. The FA president says these regional leagues are the equivalent of the second division.
That is because the champions of North League, Central League and South League will then be pooled with this upcoming second division (Male’ League) champions and the bottom club of the first-division, in the play-off to qualify for a spot in the Dhivehi Premier League.
