Ali Thameem
New Radiant Sports Club and Odi Sports Club have run into a draw in last night’s game of the FAM Youth Championship.
On their return to the Youth Championship after a decade, New Radiant were the team to take the lead. Following a goalless first-half, The Blues broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, courtesy of a brilliant freekick from their newest big signing, Ethan Ibrahim Zaki.
Odi fought back and equalized within fifteen minutes, as Hussain Shuhaadh Suhan finished off a counter-attack.
Four minutes remaining in normal time, the New Radiant captain Ethan suffered a serious injury to what appeared to be his left knee, and had to be stretchered off.
Both the scorers of this match had played last season’s DPL for clubs who are now relegated – Ethan had signed for New Radiant after his previous team, Club Valencia, relegated to the second division. Suhaadh had played for United Victory on his debut season, who are also relegated from the DPL.
The FAM Youth Championship 2026 features six teams. Following match day one, Maziya Sports and Recreation are on top of the leaderboard, followed by Keyodhoo – both having won their respective opening games.
New Radiant, who are competing for the first time since the Youth Championship age was lowered from U21 to U19, have never won the championship. The closest they got to the trophy was in the final of 2011, in the championship’s inaugural edition fifteen years ago.
The second round of fixtures will start on Wednesday evening, as TC Sports Club and Buru SC will look to recover from their respective defeats in the opening day. Wednesday night will feature a clash between defending champions Maziya Sports Club and New Radiant SC.
