Ali Thameem
Football association of Maldives has approved New Radiant Sports Club’s request to fill in the vacant slot left by Super United Sports ahead of the upcoming season of Dhivehi Premier League.
FAM’s executive committee finalized the decision after comparing the performance between New Radiant Sports Club and Tent Sports in the Second Divisionof last season. Both clubs were denied promotion after being knocked out in the semifinals. The issue was reviewed by the Competition Committee of the FA, before concluding that New Radiant were the third-placed team in the second division.
The winner and the runners-up of that season; Odi SC and Victory SC, had been granted first division slots without the need for playoffs.
The FAM statutes amended on 27th June states that FAM members must consist of 10 first division clubs.
New Radiant Sports Club was suspended in 2019 by the FAM’s executive committee, on the grounds of unpaid wages. The suspension was upheld by the voting majority of the FAM congress.
New Radiant has long stood by its stance that the club’s suspension by the Bassam administration was political in nature.
Three years later, their suspension was lifted and New Radiant competed in the second division. They qualified for the semifinals in both 2023 and 2024, but could not make it to the finals and therefore were not allowed promotion.
The management of New Radiant have, for the past couple of weeks, worked relentlessly to ensure FAM’s approval of their appeal. In the meantime, the club has signed over half a dozen players and appointed Ali Suzain as head coach.
The colluding of Super United Sports and New Radiant have been reportedly characterized as a “deal” between the two clubs. Some have criticized the club’s management, accusing it of trying to circumvent the path to promotion. The FA has also fined Super United Sports with MVR 200,00/- for the withdrawal from DPL.
NRSC’s return to the top tier has thus been scrutinized by some, those including sports administrators and analysts from the lobby group Save FAM. Regardless, the excitement surrounding the return of NRSC appears to drown out the voice of critics.
After all, it is New Radiant, arguably the most decorated football club in the history of Maldivian football, with the biggest, most active fan base to date.
