The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) wants the next football season to start in June as per tradition, association president Bassam Adeel Jaleel has said.

Speaking to the state media, Bassam said on Thursday night that previous managerial staff of the FAM had all favoured beginning seasons in June.

Bassam said that the FAM has been in discussion to start the next season by June this year, and that there have been delays in coming to a final decision on the matter.

Bassam also said that local clubs being barred from competing in the Asian Football Confederation’s AFC Cup will help kick off the next season with energy.

FAM is working on training coaches and now making other preparations for the start of the next season, Bassam said.

FAM’s general secretary Hussain Javaz said that most players want the next season to start in June as well and that clubs in the Dhivehi Premier League also favour it.

RaajjeMV understands that all clubs, except for Maziya Sports and Recreation, want the next season to start in June.

The new season will be kicked off with the charity shield match, where the winner is given a cash prize and 20 percent of the amount it generates is donated to a social cause.