Minister of Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu met with Arsenal’s Head of Sports Medicine, Dr Zafar Iqbal, on Wednesday to discuss advancing sports medicine in the Maldives.

During the meeting, Dr Iqbal shared his extensive experience with top football clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Crystal Palace. He provided valuable insights into injury prevention, rehabilitation, and best practices in athlete care.

Minister Rafiu, who has a background in sports medicine and previously served as a medic for the national team, discussed potential areas of collaboration with Dr Iqbal, focusing on strengthening rehabilitation and injury prevention programmes for Maldivian athletes.

Dr Iqbal, who became Arsenal’s Head of Sports Medicine in February 2024, is a highly respected figure in the field with years of experience supporting elite athletes.

The meeting is part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to enhance sports development in the Maldives through international collaboration. In May, Minister Rafiu also held discussions with representatives from Liverpool FC about establishing a Liverpool Football Academy in the country, aiming to provide Maldivian players with opportunities to train both locally and in the United Kingdom under Liverpool’s coaching expertise.