Encouraging the Maldives national football team ahead of its first game in the “Ooredoo SAFF Championship 2021”, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has promised to provide a bonus for every winning match.

During a meeting with the country’s national team at Hotel Jen ahead of the first game of the championship scheduled for Friday night, the President stated that every single Maldivian stands united in their support for the national team’s bid to win the championship title for a third time.

Highlighting that the aspirations of Maldivians are attached to the team bringing home the cup, as Maldivians are dedicated football fans, the president stated that the government intends to provide a bonus for every winning match, as an additional perk.

Since assuming office in November 2019, the incumbent administration has been working tirelessly to develop sports and sports infrastructure without discrimination.

The president went on to note that the government plans to modernize the National Football Stadium with essential amenities and services. He highlighted that his administration has also boosted the monetary incentive for winning sports.

Further, President Solih added that he believes the team has trained well enough to win the cup in such a short period of time.

The 13th SAFF Championship begins on Friday, and will proceed till October 16.

Comprised of 29 players, Maldives National Football Team departed to Qatar on September 10, for its training camp ahead of the championship. The team is set to return to the Maldives on Monday morning. The national team began training for the championship on August 26, with a preliminary squad comprising of 34 players. Only 29 players had joined the Qatar camp although a team of 30 players were to camp in Qatar initially. The 30th player was compromised after Maziya Sports and Recreation’s goalkeeper Hussain Shareef sustained injuries.

Maldives will face Nepal in the first match of the tournament on October 1, before facing Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India respectively on October 7, 10 and 13. The top two finishers will play the final on October 16.

This is the second time Maldives will be hosting the highly-anticipated SAFF Championship. The first time was in 2008, where co-hosted with Sri Lanka. That time Maldives brought home the championship for the first time. The last SAFF championship was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2018 where Maldives and India made it to the finals. Maldives took home the championship that year as well.