The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has given first division clubs the green light to resume practices for the new football season.

Football Association of Maldives (FAM)’s General Secretary Hussain Jawaz told RaajjeMV that HPA granted approval for first division clubs to resume practices, last week.

He added that guidelines to be followed during practice sessions, under the “new normal” were finalized during a meeting with the public health authority on Thursday.

Eight teams under the first division will be allowed to conduct practices from Thursday onward, keeping in mind to adhere to the guidelines in place.

Jawaz added that although HPA has granted approval to conduct practice sessions before the new season kicks off, members of the general public and others will not be allowed to conduct practice sessions.

This comes at a time FAM had engaged in discussions with the Maldives Police Service (MPS) regarding preparations for the upcoming football season.

FAM has been working to ensure the football season kicks off within December 2020. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the last season was cancelled halfway into the FA Cup.

In interviews with RaajjeTV previously, a few coaches of first division clubs had expressed that players wish to kick start the new season as soon as possible and that they require two months of practice sessions before the new season begins.

Although work is underway to commence the upcoming football season in December, spokesperson of the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) Dr. Nazla Rafeeq earlier revealed that sports events and activities will be given the approval to resume as part of the easing of measures in place, if authorities observe a significant plunge in daily case counts.