Jeddah United returns from successful Maldives tour

JEDDAH — Jeddah United Under-20 returned home this weekend following a victorious tour to the Maldives. Maldives Olympic Committee in collaboration with Jeddah United Sports Co. organized the 3-day visit. Maldives Under-20 women’s basketball team and Jeddah United women’s team played two challenging games in the capital Male’. The aspiring young ladies from Jeddah United and Maldives performed exceptionally well in both the matches. Jeddah United claimed the first game 68-52 and the second 45-39. While captain Fahda Alsolaiman was the top scorer in the first outing, Deema Fatany was the top player in the second match. The chief guest for Game 1 was Aneesa Ahmed, founder of Hope for Women NGO and a former government minister. The chief guest for Game 2 was Aminath Eenas, president of Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. The Women’s Commission of Maldives Olympic Committee received the 18-member Jeddah United delegation including coach Deborah Packwood, manager Maaly Alabdaly and head of delegation Lina K. Almaeena at Male’ airport. “Sports are the epitome of hard work and dedication, opportunities like this will make the athletes reach the pinnacle of the sport,” the commission stated. The national team of Maldives has participated in the 2010 Asian Games, which took place in Guangzhou, China. Lina K. Almaeena, the head of the delegation and CEO of Jeddah United Sports Co., said: “We are so happy with the friendships we built in the Madives. We learned so much there and realized what the Maldives and Saudi Arabia have in common as Muslim countries. We would like to thank the Maldevian Olympic Commission for its hospitality and also appreciate our government for opening the Saudi Embassy recently in Male, and the direct flight of Mega Maldives from Jeddah to the Maldives which made it an experience of a lifetime.” Fahda Alsolaiman, captain of the U-20 team said: “The fact that a private club has won over a national team is a big accomplishment. We hope to be able to represent our country in the manner it deserves.” The Maldives was the 5th country Jeddah United has visited following visits to the UAE, Jordan, Malasia and the US.