Cricket
Niya - Architect behind Victory's “Resurgence”
Victory Sports Club is one of the historical and iconic clubs in the Maldives. Its absence from the sporting arena has been a great loss to the sports-loving community, especially the club’s fans. VSC has been suspended and relegated to the second division as punishment for not fulfilling the contractual obligation towards players and failing to complete club licensing process.
The departure of Victory from the elite field has caused a vacuum. A club that lifted so many championship trophies and created several outstanding players and coaches has completely vanished without much hope of a comeback. Victory reemerged at a time when their existence is questionable due to the overwhelming amount of debts.
Former cricketer turned politician, MP of Hulhumale constituency resurfaced as a blessing to the fans who had longed to see Victory performing on the field. He is a strong supporter of Victory and he has served the club as a cricketer who has lifted many trophies for VSC. For him, putting Victory Sports Club back on the field is like deep relief and satisfaction. Niya sought the assistance of Abdul latheef (GK), Ahmed Riyaz (Gana) and Ahmed Areesh (Patey) and coach Mohamed Adam to bring Victory back to where they belong.
Niya who had quite a successful career in cricket. In the early days of his cricket career, he was the captain of Majeediyya school cricket team during Majeediyya school's dominance in school cricket. Players like Moosa Kaleem, one of the Maldives' greatest cricketers, has played under his leadership during his school days.
Niya has represented the Maldives National cricket team in various International Tournaments in the late 90's and early 20's.Technically sound, reliable middle order batsmen and a useful off spinner, he is renowned for his leadership and patience in his match-saving tireless long innings played for various clubs during his playing days. Adding to his stylish batting and skillful bowling, his sharp fielding was an advantage for any coach to consider him as an all-rounder in any playing 11. He has played for Victory Sports Club, Milan Cricket club and Hinnavaru Hiriya and has won many club championships with his all-round valuable contributions.
Although retiring from cricket, Niya did not completely stay aloof from sports. Instead, he turned his focus to sports administration. He formed his own club under the name Hinnavaru Hiriya in 2004. He has been the chairman of the club since inception. In 2008, he resigned from Hiriya's chairmanship to serve in the MDP leading government as North Province State Minister. Under his short span of chairmanship, Hiriya won 14 major national championships in 5 different sports. Two in football, 8 in cricket, 2 in women’s volleyball, 1 in badminton and one in basketball.
He has served Maldives Cricket in many ways. He was once an EXCO member of the Maldives Cricket Board and later filled the post of General Secretary of the Maldives Cricket Board in 2014.
He has also served as a member of Volleyball EXCO during his tenure as Hiriya's Chairman. Prior to being elected to the Victory's EXCO, he served as an EXCO member in 2009 for Victory Sports Club. He was offered Victory's Chairmanship in this year's EXCO election but declined the offer, believing that a more senior and well-known figure from Galolhu would be the ideal choice.
Though he didn't accept the chairmanship, he is actively involved in the club's current administration. In the very first EXCO meeting, he proposed a major structural change in Club Administration. He proposed forming 3 departments to be led by 3 EXCO members.
Namely: Admin, Media & Marketing headed by the General Secretary, Sports Management & Development headed by the Vice President and finance & Fundraising headed by the Treasurer. EXCO unanimously agreed to the proposal. Victory Sports Club is currently running as an organized unit under a very dynamic General Secretary who looks after the day to day administration.
Niya being a member of Parliament and chair of the Decentralization Committee in the current Parliament, strongly believes that if Maldives is to succeed in the international arena, the existing format of Sports Administration & development needs to change. As a strong advocate for a decentralized system of governance, he is ready to advocate and assist everyone for a more decentralized result-oriented format of sports administration & development.
The departure of Victory from the elite field has caused a vacuum. A club that lifted so many championship trophies and created several outstanding players and coaches has completely vanished without much hope of a comeback. Victory reemerged at a time when their existence is questionable due to the overwhelming amount of debts.
Former cricketer turned politician, MP of Hulhumale constituency resurfaced as a blessing to the fans who had longed to see Victory performing on the field. He is a strong supporter of Victory and he has served the club as a cricketer who has lifted many trophies for VSC. For him, putting Victory Sports Club back on the field is like deep relief and satisfaction. Niya sought the assistance of Abdul latheef (GK), Ahmed Riyaz (Gana) and Ahmed Areesh (Patey) and coach Mohamed Adam to bring Victory back to where they belong.
Niya who had quite a successful career in cricket. In the early days of his cricket career, he was the captain of Majeediyya school cricket team during Majeediyya school's dominance in school cricket. Players like Moosa Kaleem, one of the Maldives' greatest cricketers, has played under his leadership during his school days.
Niya has represented the Maldives National cricket team in various International Tournaments in the late 90's and early 20's.Technically sound, reliable middle order batsmen and a useful off spinner, he is renowned for his leadership and patience in his match-saving tireless long innings played for various clubs during his playing days. Adding to his stylish batting and skillful bowling, his sharp fielding was an advantage for any coach to consider him as an all-rounder in any playing 11. He has played for Victory Sports Club, Milan Cricket club and Hinnavaru Hiriya and has won many club championships with his all-round valuable contributions.
Although retiring from cricket, Niya did not completely stay aloof from sports. Instead, he turned his focus to sports administration. He formed his own club under the name Hinnavaru Hiriya in 2004. He has been the chairman of the club since inception. In 2008, he resigned from Hiriya's chairmanship to serve in the MDP leading government as North Province State Minister. Under his short span of chairmanship, Hiriya won 14 major national championships in 5 different sports. Two in football, 8 in cricket, 2 in women’s volleyball, 1 in badminton and one in basketball.
He has served Maldives Cricket in many ways. He was once an EXCO member of the Maldives Cricket Board and later filled the post of General Secretary of the Maldives Cricket Board in 2014.
He has also served as a member of Volleyball EXCO during his tenure as Hiriya's Chairman. Prior to being elected to the Victory's EXCO, he served as an EXCO member in 2009 for Victory Sports Club. He was offered Victory's Chairmanship in this year's EXCO election but declined the offer, believing that a more senior and well-known figure from Galolhu would be the ideal choice.
Though he didn't accept the chairmanship, he is actively involved in the club's current administration. In the very first EXCO meeting, he proposed a major structural change in Club Administration. He proposed forming 3 departments to be led by 3 EXCO members.
Namely: Admin, Media & Marketing headed by the General Secretary, Sports Management & Development headed by the Vice President and finance & Fundraising headed by the Treasurer. EXCO unanimously agreed to the proposal. Victory Sports Club is currently running as an organized unit under a very dynamic General Secretary who looks after the day to day administration.
Niya being a member of Parliament and chair of the Decentralization Committee in the current Parliament, strongly believes that if Maldives is to succeed in the international arena, the existing format of Sports Administration & development needs to change. As a strong advocate for a decentralized system of governance, he is ready to advocate and assist everyone for a more decentralized result-oriented format of sports administration & development.