The Football Association of Maldives has recently announced that they are planning to begin a national football academy within three months of time.

The facility is scheduled to be built at Hulhumale and is estimated to be finished within theee months. The facility will include a turf pitch, an accomodation block, a gym and a prayer room as decribed by FAM's president Bassam Adeel Jaleel. He has also stated that the facility is plannes to be upgraded later and more pitches will be added after the upgrade is finished.

Bassam had mentioned that the main aim of the project is to develop maldivian football at a young age and produce more talentes players. FAM had started "Towards Future" project earlier and this facility will help in improving the next generation of Maldivian players.

According to FAM, the academy will be facilitated for youngsters aged from 13 to 17 years and players from all over Maldives will be given the opportunity to develop. The association has planned to give the opportunity for 100 youngsters and they will be provided education other than football knowledge.

FAM's deputy technical director, Ihsan Abdul Ghani (Saanthi) has stated that a team from the association will travel to different islands to select players for the academy and a final selection will be made at Male giving the opportunity for a 100 youngsters to develop their talent at the academy.

Photo: Football Association of Maldives