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Baa atoll’s first community football tournament wraps up

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Eydhafushi have been crowned champions of the first ever Baa Football Challenge, beating a determined Goidhoo side 6-1.

The final at the Eydhafushi Stadium on July 20 was covered by YES TV (PSM) and watched by a live crowd of around 700 spectators, including tourism minister Ali Waheed, Baa Atoll Council President Mabrook Naseer, and former Maldives National team players Ali Shiham and Mohamed ‘Bakaa’ Arif.

Eydhafushi won three of their group ties to secure a place in the semi-finals against Kihaadhoo, beating them 5-1, whilst Goidhoo won three of their four games in the run up to the final, scoring 12 against Maalhos to reach the semi-finals.

In-form Goidhoo started the final very positively and were the first to score, but despite some great football from both teams Eydhafushi proved too strong and made their home advantage count.

Commenting on his team’s overall win, Eydhafushi’s Captain, Mohamed Fasir, said: “We set out in the final to learn from all the mistakes of previous matches and just play the best we could. We were fortunate to have the advantage of playing at our home ground but our team is young and enthusiastic and we’re very grateful that this win will help to support their development even further.”

Initiated and sponsored by Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru to strengthen the bond between the 13 islands of Baa atoll, the Baa Football Challenge – the country’s biggest resort-organised football event – saw a total of 11 teams battle it out in 18 games across 18 days, scoring a total of 92 goals and delighting an estimated total of 5,000 in-stadium supporters.

The atmospheric closing ceremony saw additional tournament awards presented to:

  • Best Defender – Razzan Rasheed (Eydhafushi)
  • Best Midfielder – Shahee Moosa (Eydhafushi)
  • Best Forward – Adam Nizam (Goidhoo)
  • Best Keeper – Ali Ajfan Amjad (Eydhafushi)
  • Best Coach – Shafy Ali (Eydhafushi)
  • Best Player Under 21 – Ali Naseem (Eydhafushi)
  • Fair Play Team – Kendhoo

The Player of the Tournament, Mohamed Fasir (Eydhafushi), was also awarded the Golden Boot, having scored 10 goals, narrowly beating Goidhoo’s Adam Nazir, who also scored 10 but in a slightly longer period of time. Eydhafushi’s Ali Naseem was the third top goal scorer of the tournament with a total of 7.

The tournament ended with tourism minister Waheed and Armando Kraenzlin, Regional Vice President of Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, unfurling a banner – “See You In 2020” – confirming the return of the Challenge next year.

“We set out with the intention of using football to explore and expand community relations, yet we have ended up with so much more,” Kraenzlin said.

“It has been a month of incredible talent, sportsmanship and bonding that has not only brought Baa atoll closer but has given a national platform to our incredible footballers and community spirit. My congratulations not only to Eydhafushi, Goidhoo, and all the individual award winners, but to every single member of the 11 participating teams for their contribution to this fantastic event.”

And the football wasn’t the only community connections being celebrated in Baa. In honour of PADI Women’s Dive Day, also held on Saturday July 20, women from Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru’s Dive, Marine Savers and Manta Trust teams introduced local female swimming teachers from the island of Eydhafushi to the magic world of diving.

Community spirit is strong in Baa!

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Ifuru Island Maldives takes part in Burunu Boma sport fishing tournament 

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Ifuru Island Maldives has announced its participation in the inaugural Burunu Boma Sport Fishing Tournament, taking place from 2 to 4 May 2025. Organized by the Visit Maldives Club (VMC), this premier event aims to position the Maldives as a leading destination for sustainable sport fishing.

As one of the select resorts competing in this prestigious tournament, Team Ifuru Maldives will showcase its commitment to marine conservation and responsible tourism. The competition emphasizes “catch and release” practices, aligning with global efforts to preserve marine biodiversity.

Participants will target species such as marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, swordfish, and bigeye tuna, with a grand prize of USD 25,000 awarded to the top-performing team. The event also features live entertainment and a festive atmosphere, celebrating the Maldives’ rich fishing heritage.

“We are thrilled to be part of Burunu Boma and to represent Ifuru Island Maldives in this landmark event,” said Marcel Sawyer, General Manager at Ifuru Island Maldives. “Our participation underscores our dedication to sustainable practices and our passion for the ocean that surrounds us.”

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Sirru Fen Fushi to host ‘One Ocean, One Breath’ with Freedive Maldives to mark World Oceans Day

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Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort, invites ocean lovers and adventure seekers to a purposeful World Oceans Day celebration in partnership with Freedive Maldives, Guinness World Record Holder for the Most People Performing Static Apnea held last October 2022.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of one of the largest natural lagoons and house reefs in the Maldives, the event promises a deep connection to the ocean through expert-led PADI Freediving courses, ranging from basic to advanced levels. Participants will have the opportunity to earn their freediving certification, explore Sirru’s 9-kilometer-long house reef, and admire vibrant marine biodiversity, including manta ray cleaning stations, nurse shark points, flourishing coral gardens, and turtle habitats, home to 93 resident turtles and 11 successful hatchings this year alone.

“Our house reef, one of the longest and most vibrant in the Maldives, is a sanctuary for marine life and a symbol of our deep commitment to ocean conservation,” said Lukasz Prendke, General Manager of Sirru Fen Fushi. “We are honoured to collaborate with Freedive Maldives in celebrating World Oceans Day, not only to offer our guests an unforgettable underwater journey, but also to empower local talents and inspire our community to protect what lies beneath the surface.”

The initiative aligns with the resort’s ongoing sustainability commitments, including regular lagoon cleaning programs and support for local marine conservation efforts. This collaboration further emphasizes a shared mission to preserve the Maldives’ rich underwater heritage and engage the local community in meaningful environmental action.

In a broader commitment to sustainable tourism, Freedive Maldives has also signed a partnership agreement with the Baa Atoll Council to host another record-breaking freediving event in October 2025, coinciding with World Tourism Day, reinforcing Baa Atoll’s position as a leader in eco-conscious marine tourism.

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Napoli back on top of Serie A as De Laurentiis celebrates in Maldives

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Aurelio De Laurentiis, owner and chairman of SSC Napoli and one of Italy’s leading film producers, is celebrating his club’s return to the top of Serie A while holidaying in the Maldives.

Napoli secured a crucial 2–0 victory over Torino in the 34th round of the league, taking full advantage of Inter Milan’s 1–0 loss to Roma. With the win, Napoli now lead the table with 74 points, three points clear of Inter, with four matches remaining in the season.

Many had expected De Laurentiis to be present at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for such a pivotal match. However, according to Italian media reports, he remained in the Maldives. After the match, the Napoli president posted a message from afar, encouraging his team to stay composed during the decisive final stretch of the season: “Cool heads. Calm and steady. Forza Napoli Sempre!”

The radio station Kiss Kiss Napoli suggested that De Laurentiis’ decision to stay in the Maldives, distant from Italy, reflects his strategy of giving space to the team and coaching staff while firmly maintaining control over the club’s direction.

Following Napoli’s historic league triumph in 2023, their first in over three decades, the club endured a turbulent season marked by coaching changes and management instability. Many attributed last season’s struggles to the lack of continuity.

Determined to rebuild, De Laurentiis appointed Antonio Conte, a proven winner, as head coach ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, a move that is already delivering results.

As the race for the Scudetto intensifies, Napoli’s dream of winning a second title in three years remains very much alive, with De Laurentiis steering the course even from thousands of miles away.

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