After serving 20 years in the education sector as a sports supervisor, Maldivian cricket personality Mohamed Faiz Samad has retired from that work.
Born in Sri Lanka but having spent most of his life in the Maldives, Faiz, 72, has spent 16 years at Vilimale' Muhyiddeen School where he currently works. Before that, he worked for four years at Muhihuddeen School in Addu.
The former national cricket team player said he is satisfied with the work done over the past 20 years to guide many students through sports, and now wants to set course in a new direction.
He is likely to be seen next as a youth development coach at the Cricket Board. Before his school career, he had worked as a cricket coach in Male' and Addu. When there wasn't a good sports supervisor in Addu, the Education Ministry asked him to take charge of Muhihuddeen School while he was still in Addu.
Country's cricket legend Faiz Samad
Faiz has trained students in many sports including cricket, football, volleyball, and athletics at both schools. Many of his students have gone on to play at the national level. Most notably, Adam Nasif (Adhalhey), who won Best Cricket Player title in 2022, was a player he identified from Muhyiddeen School.
Faiz said he leaves Muhyiddeen School, which he has considered his second home for so many years, with happy memories and grateful feelings.
"Though I'm leaving this school, its spirit will never leave me."
The school's principal, Nazima Ali Manik said everyone holds goodwill and gratitude towards Faiz, their most senior employee, and that he is leaving after providing many important services.
"What's especially notable about Faiz is how he brings comfort to everyone with his cheerful, humorous temperament during stressful times," Nazima said.
"There isn't a single person in this school who is unhappy with Faiz. He is loved by everyone."
A Cricket Legend
Faiz first came to the Maldives in 1976 for a holiday with some Maldivian friends who studied with him at Trinity College in Sri Lanka. However, he fell in love with the Maldives and settled here. Working at his friend and then-cricket player Canary Abdus Sattar's Safari Tours, he began playing cricket and hockey at the national level.
He was one of the biggest contributors to Victory Sports Club's cricket achievements. He played especially well when the club won the cricket trophy. Faiz also played for Victory's football team for a while.
Faiz married a Maldivian. His son from that marriage, Afzal Faiz, is also an excellent cricket player. Afzal has captained the national team and achieved international success with the national team.
In recognition of Faiz's service to Maldivian sports, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the "Haveeru Sports Awards" in 2015. His contributions were also recognized at the government's Maldives Sports Awards.