Male', Maldives: Former National Football Team captain, Akram Abdul Ghani (Aku), has commended the launch of the Dhivehi Youth League (DYL), a vital initiative that will provide young players with a much-needed platform to showcase their skills and improve their game.
The Dhivehi Youth League, organized by Maldives Soccer Mates (MSM) in collaboration with the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), features eight participating academies and runs across three age categories: U12, U14, and U16.
Aku, who is actively involved in the organization of this competiton. He is also overseeing the technical aspects of the league, following his recent participation of the AFC C License coaching course.
In an interview with "Adhadhu Sports", Aku emphasized the critical gap in Maldives football, particularly in grassroots development, which lacks proper competition and sufficient match opportunities.
"The Dhivehi Youth League is a crucial competition for developing football in the country. To advance football in a sustainable and long-term manner, the DYL provides the necessary platform. It's an initiative we desperately need," Aku said.
Many football academies in the Maldives participate in invitational tournaments in Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore to gain more playing time, but they typically compete in seven-a-side formats, which are not ideal for player development.
In contrast, the Dhivehi Youth League offers tournaments with more effective formats, providing local players with valuable game experience.
Aku stressed that the league guarantees essential match time for emerging talents right here in the Maldives.
"Having watched every match of the Dhivehi Youth League so far, I can assure you that we are surprised by the talent emerging from these academies. This competition is helping us instill professionalism in young players," Aku explained.
He also noted that the current generation of footballers in the country has more support from their families than previous generations, who did not receive such training at a young age.
Aku expressed his gratitude to the parents who are encouraging and supporting their children’s aspirations to become professional footballers.
The Dhivehi Youth League is currently on a break for the school holidays, with the next round of matches set to resume on January 6th.
