For Zaadh Mohamed Khalid, football was never just a game.

While other children were watching cartoons, Zaadh was watching football. Inspired by his football-loving father, he started training at just five years old.

From inter-school competitions, his passion took him all the way to the Maldives Under-19 national team, and later to First Division clubs including Valencia and Eagles.

Born and raised in Hithadhoo, Addu City, Zaadh has built his life around the sport he loves. But his ambitions go beyond the football pitch.

A sports journalist by profession, he now dreams of achieving something that will make his country proud.

And for the next three years, he is making a difficult but important decision — stepping away from professional football to focus on completing his degree in Information Technology.

For Zaadh, this is not the end of his football journey. It is a pause — a chance to invest in his education, grow as a person, and prepare for what comes next.

From a five-year-old boy who chose football over cartoons, to a national youth player and First Division footballer, Zaadh’s dream remains the same:

To succeed, to make a name for himself, and one day, to make his nation proud.