The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) and the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) have stepped in to arrange the expenses for futsal player Ali Hafiz, widely known as Happe, to undergo surgery abroad following an injury.

Happe sustained a leg injury during the AFC Asian Futsal Cup qualifiers in Myanmar, where the Maldives lost 7-3 in their final match. Medical experts advised him to undergo surgery without delay. Initially, he considered treatment in Thailand but later agreed to have the procedure in India after discussions with FAM.

The arrangements include the cost of the surgery, travel tickets for Happe and two assistants, as well as accommodation and food expenses. His departure, which was originally planned for today, has been postponed to tomorrow.

Happe has already missed the Club Maldives Cup due to the injury and has been waiting for surgery for nearly two weeks. Concerns have been raised over the delay, with some supporters sharing messages of solidarity and calls for financial assistance.

This is not the first time Happe has faced such a setback. He previously suffered a knee injury in 2024, which kept him out of the Golden Futsal Challenge. However, he made a strong return earlier this year and performed well before the latest injury.