Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has, on Tuesday night, celebrated TC Sports Clubs’ victory in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup 2017.

TC beat South Korea’s Pocheon Citizen FC in the final match of the Sheikh Kamal Cup on March 3, making history as the first local club to win the title in an international tournament.

TC players, officials and board members took part in the event held in front of the FAM House on Tuesday night, as well as senior officials of FAM, sports commissioner Ahmed Nasheed and President of the Olympic Committee, Mohamed Shaweed.

FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel, speaking at the event, said that FAM had not given TC the opportunity to compete in the Sheikh Kamal Cup, but that TC “had earned it”, with their result in the last season.

“TC has made the country proud by becoming the first club to bring a gold medal back to the country,” said Bassam.

Furthermore, Bassam said that TC has “given hope” to the local clubs, proving that other clubs can win such international tournaments as well.

Bassam also praised the club’s coach, Mohamed “Nizambe” Nizam, emphasizing that “this is the first time that a Maldivian coach has brought a gold medal.”

He said that this shows that Maldivian coaches have the potential to do so.

TC won the Sheikh Kamal Cup without losing any of their matches.