Male' Maldives: Ahmed Shaakir (Shaakitte), who is at the forefront of elite and youth development work at FAM, has said that young players will learn the right way to build a football career if they get the opportunity to play competitive matches in the Dhivehi Youth League (DYL).
Maldives Soccer Mates (MSM) is organizing the Dhivehi Youth League in association with FAM. Shakitte, who is leading the tournament's operations, told 'Adhadhu Sports' that hosting a youth league is critically important for several reasons.
"Now, the league is being held for U-12, U-14, and U-16 age groups. They practice daily in academies, and it is very important for their development that they get to play matches at a competitive level. That’s what they are missing now, and getting to play matches will help their futures a lot," said Shaakitte.
Previously, grassroots football development in the country was managed through the Youth Development Programme (YDP), part of FAM. However, over the last 15 years, clubs and organizations have started training players daily by establishing academies.
Later, it became mandatory for clubs to run academies under the club licensing system.
In countries where football is highly developed, even the best clubs operate academies to nurture talent from as young as six years old.
Shaakitte highlighted that academies run by first-division clubs in this manner can have a long-term positive impact on a country’s football development.
"If the academy structure is functioning well, it will benefit the club greatly. Running academies under these clubs will not only be advantageous for the clubs themselves but also for football development as a whole," Shaakitte said.
Shakitte, who has also served as the head coach of the country’s Under-19 national football team and as an assistant coach for the senior national team, stated that the youth league has already revealed many talented players.
"In youth league matches, we have seen many players with exceptional talent. We've discovered so many talented players who are a joy to watch. It’s important to guide these players in the right direction," said Shaakitte.
FAM aims to identify the talented players discovered in the Youth League, make selections, and build strong teams. With this forward-looking mindset, the Youth League has been structured effectively, Shaakitte noted.
"FIFA and AFC guidelines for age-group tournaments have been followed because that’s the best way to benefit the future of these kids," said Shaakitte.
The Dhivehi Youth League resumed after a brief break on January 6th.
