Maldives president on the ball with Bradford 2025 and University Football for Peace centre
President of the Maldives His Excellency Mohamed Muizzu embraces Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and University of Bradford's Football for Peace centre, while meeting former Everton footballer Oumar Niasse.
President of the Maldives His Excellency, Mohamed Muizzu alongside Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture Creative Director Shanaz Gulzar and former Premier League Footballer Oumar Niasse visited the University of Bradford Football for Peace Centre as part of an international partnership.
He toured football pitches owned by the University as part of the initiative to give underprivileged children the chance to participate in sports - the University signed up to the partnership in October 2021.
Milestones for the Bradford-based project include:
- 250 free football sessions
- 20 life-skills workshops
- 3 environmental clean ups
- Restoration of the Peace Garden
- 938 young people engaged
- 29 players moved onto Football Association youth league teams (17 of South Asian decent) and 13 moved to semi-pro teams (six of South Asian decent)
- Employed 13 football coaches (10 of South Asian decent)
President Muizzu said: "Football for Peace is not just about sport, it is about creating opportunities for youth, breaking barriers, and inspiring change."
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford Professor Shirley Congdon said: "When we signed up to the Football for Peace initiative in October 2021, we did so in the hope it would help young people gain skills and confidence.
"We pride ourselves on our approach to inclusivity and improving people's chances in life, so I'm thrilled to learn that the Bradford Football for Peace centre is having such a positive impact."
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture Creative Director Shanaz Gulzar said: "Bradford 2025 is about bringing people together through culture and growing a new generation of young leaders and changemakers. Through this partnership with Football for Peace, we are working to uplift our communities, inspire young people, and build a sustainable future."
What is Football for Peace?
The University of Bradford has partnered with Football for Peace, a global sports diplomacy foundation using football to tackle pressing issues and the Football Association to deliver on the programme, which will see teams of youngsters use University football pitches and enrol on a certificated course. The initiative was also supported by former Arsenal captain Mesut Özil.
The idea is to use football as a means of promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. The centre also educates young people on key global challenges, including conflict resolution, water stewardship and skills such as that they can use in later life.
FFP delivers projects in the UK and the Maldives and is now working with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture to ensure the project leaves a legacy for the district.
Football for Peace co-founder, Kash Siddiqi, said: “I’m so proud that this initiative has gone strength to strength and to have a head of state visit, is testament that local projects like this can grow across the world. We are using football as our strategy for a more united and hydrated world.”
Why was the Maldives President in Bradford?
This visit forms part of a broader campaign, with Football for Peace previously collaborating with the Commonwealth and the Maldives’ Ministry of Sport, Education, NCTC, and Tourism to engage youth.
The initiative has also worked with the Children’s Parliament, the London Parliament, and U.S. Congressional members, as well as the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC), to advocate for sustainable groundwater management.
Notable past activations include World Water Day 2024 events in London and Washington, D.C., where symbolic ‘wall activations’ demonstrated the breaking down of barriers in global water challenges.
Looking ahead, Football for Peace aims to inspire action worldwide, engaging youth and policymakers to implement rehydration projects that restore natural water cycles, recharge aquifers, and mitigate water-related disasters such as droughts and floods.
Football for Peace co-founder, Kash Siddiqi, said “I’m so proud that this initiative has gone strength to strength and to have a head of state visit, is testament that local projects like this can grow across the world. We are using football as our strategy for a more united and hydrated world.”
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