President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Ahmed Thoriq, has said that the national futsal team has demonstrated that the Maldives stands first in the region.
He made the remarks during PSM’s special live coverage following the Maldives’ victory in the 2026 SAFF Futsal Championship.
Thoriq said the national team’s management and players worked together as a unit to secure the championship title with one match still remaining in the tournament.
He noted that the team began training on 1 December and said the players showed clear talent. However, he added that with increased exposure and the guidance of a foreign coach, it was evident that Maldivian players possessed the quality needed to win a regional title.
“It was clear that the players were working in a disciplined manner as a team. The entire team worked hard to win the trophy, and I would like to thank all the players and officials for their efforts,” he said.
Thoriq described the achievement as the strongest step taken so far by FAM in collaboration with the football community. He added that FAM will announce this season’s football tournaments in the coming days.
He said the association will continue efforts to further develop footballers who previously lacked opportunities to compete against strong international opponents.
The FAM President noted that in the past, the Maldives had to compete in major tournaments such as Asian Cup qualifiers with limited preparation time. As a result, the national team was unable to achieve the desired outcomes in those competitions.
He said the SAFF Futsal Championship provided the Maldives with its first proper opportunity to compete against regional rivals under competitive conditions, and that Maldivian players proved their strength by finishing first.
Thoriq said FAM will work to ensure that Maldivian teams are provided with more such opportunities in the future.