Maldives national futsal team head coach Farrukh Zakirov has stated that the team’s primary objective is to win the upcoming SAFF Futsal Tournament, highlighting that the competing teams are expected to be evenly matched.

Both the men’s and women’s SAFF futsal tournaments will be held in January next year. The women’s tournament is scheduled from January 13 to 25, while the men’s tournament will take place from January 14 to 26.

The Maldivian futsal team departed for China this morning after completing a training programme in Malé City. The team will undergo a 10-day training camp in China, where they are scheduled to play three friendly matches as part of their preparations for the tournament.

The team has been in training for about a month, with the Chinese camp expected to serve as a key test of their progress. The matches played during the camp will help assess the effectiveness of the training carried out in the Maldives.

The camp is seen as an important step in evaluating the team’s overall development and performance. While the Maldives has many talented futsal players, further development of the sport remains necessary. Greater understanding of futsal is needed, as it differs significantly from mini football, particularly in terms of playing conditions.

The coach has reiterated his focus on winning the SAFF futsal title, noting that competition is likely to be balanced as this will be the first SAFF tournament dedicated to futsal.

He has also pointed out that futsal has strong potential in the Maldives, but stressed that the growth of the sport will depend on the availability of proper indoor courts and increased