Maaenboodhoo Football Pitch Left to Waste After Sub-Base Installation
29 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ހޮނިހިރު 12:01The Maaenboodhoo Island Council has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of the local football ground, where construction has stalled for two years despite the completion of the subbase and the delivery of turf. Although six million Rufiyaa has been allocated in next year's budget to finalize the project, the continued lack of progress is causing significant challenges for the island's youth, who remain deprived of adequate sports facilities.
Residents of the island are expressing concern that project work has failed to progress at a satisfactory pace to date. | raajjemv
The Vice President of the Maaenboodhoo Island Council, Rilwan Ibrahim, has stated that while the previous MDP administration completed the sub-base for the island's football pitch, the site has since been neglected and overgrown with vegetation.
Expressing concern over the lack of progress on the football stadium project, Rilwan stated in an interview with RaajjeTV that physical work on the site had commenced during the mid-term of the previous MDP administration. He further noted that the turf required for the pitch was brought to the island more than two years ago, yet it has remained uninstalled since then.
Rilwan stated that since President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took office, the only progress made toward installing turf on the football field has been the clearing of weeds. However, he noted that work on the stadium's lighting poles, a joint initiative between the island council and the Ministry of Youth, is now nearing completion.
It has been a long time since the government first promised to provide a football pitch. Physical work on the project finally commenced midway through Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, following the COVID-19 pandemic. The project progressed rapidly, reaching the stage where the sub-base was completed and ready for turf installation just as the government changed. Since then, the site has been neglected and overtaken by wilderness. Last year, Fenaka was tasked with clearing the overgrown vegetation from the pitch. However, since that clearing took place, no further progress has been made toward laying the turf.Rilwan Ibrahim
Noting that he had consulted with the constituency's Member of Parliament regarding the matter, Rilwan stated that the MP had assured him work on the pitch would commence within two months. However, he pointed out that the project has yet to begin.
Highlighting that the youth of Maabaidhoo are among the most skilled football players in the atoll, Rilwan stated that the island's main football pitch is deteriorating due to prolonged delays in its renovation.
The government has allocated MVR 6 million in the 2025 budget to complete the Maaenboodhoo football stadium, with a designated timeframe of 120 days for the project's conclusion. However, residents of the island are expressing growing concern that the work has not shown satisfactory progress to date.
