President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef have offered condolences to the family of the late football legend, Mohamed 'Baka' Arif.

Baka, who was the National Football Team’s midfielder passed away some time on Tuesday evening.

The football legend is to have succumbed to an illness, after he returned from a trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

The footballer was 38 years of age at the time of his death.

Baka passed away while being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of ADK Hospital, after he contracted a viral disease during his trip to perform Hajj pilgrimage. His condition is to have deteriorated after his temperature soared and he was rushed to the hospital.

In a post on social media platform ‘X’ following his death, the Maldivian president stressed that Baka’s passing is a great shock to every Maldivian citizen and that Baka was a talented player who contributed immensely to the development of sports in the country, particularly football, and had also made the country proud.

The president also prayed for patience for the family in this time of deep grief and for the deceased to be blessed with eternal peace.

In a post on ‘X’, VP Latheef stated that the former national team midfielder’s death came as a sudden shock and offered deepest condolences to the family.

Several sports enthusiasts and other members of the public have been flooding social media platforms with messages of condolences, expressing grief over the loss of the football legend, who has left an unparalleled mark on Maldives’ football with his unmatched skills as a midfielder.

Baka’s supporters as well as officials at the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), clubs he has played for as well as their players and coaches, have offered sympathies to the mourning family.

Having played for many teams during his football career, Baka was also a part of the squad that brought home the SAFF Championship trophy in 2008 as well as 2018.

Baka played a massive role in winning the SAFF championship, both times.

Some of the clubs he has played for include New Radiant Sports Club, Club Valencia, Maziya Sports and Recreation Club, Club Victory, Club Eagles and Club Green Streets.