Eid Baibalaa Team Wolves Training 1447
The Wolves coach share memories of 1996 with Announcer & Innovator of Baibalaa Hamid Abdul Ghafoor
I was recently invited by The Wolves Club founder Hassan Rajab (Richard) to see his team in training for this year’s Eid Baibalaa Championship. I came to know Richard as a star student from the Batch 29 of the National Fitness Instructor Course I teach.
Enter The Wolves Club
I visited The Wolves Club training session on Sunday 8 March 2026 at the Baibalaa Ring behind Thaajudheen School in Maafanu ward of Male’ City. I was informed this was the first time The Wolves were competing under this name in the annual Eid Baibalaa Challenge this year. The Wolves represent a tight knit community in a large patch of the Maafannu Ward.
The Wolves had assembled two teams also referred to as the first and second teams. Club are allowed to field more than one team. Teams are fielded under different names. The first team is called The Wolves, and the second team, Alpha Wolves.
The First team is a fully professional outfit with a paid coach, players and officials to the tune of One Million MVR for the season. The Club boasts with pride star players like Ahmed Rilwan (bulhaa mode) and Hamdhu Ali. Last year’s competition attracted 26 teams.
The premier Eid Baibalaa Challenge is organized by the Baibalaa Association of Maldives. Wolves are confident that their A Team is poised to clinch this season’s Eid Baibalaa Challenge 1447. The competition traditionally starts the day after Fitr Eid. (possibly 21 March this year)
Wolves Coach Nasir revisit 30-year history
Baibalaa as we know it today, was rebranded 30 years ago in 1996. Coach Nasir was a player then. Baibalaa has since then been also recognized as part of the official Fitr Eid celebrations. 1996 was the very first year the “Eid Baibalaa Challenge 1416” was staged. (referred to as a mubaaraaiy at the time). The event was broadcast on live television and radio with a background of music and cultural performances of the ocassion of Eid. The then President of Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom graced the occasion. Reviving traditional sports was an initiative of the president. BG were the historic first Champions.
As I watched both teams play, I was impressed by the team spirit curated through the culture of Baibalaa. Skills were impressive. Moves were calculated and disciplined. What is special about Baibalaa is the frequent display of showmanship. I call this spontaneity, the art of movement. These are ideal ingredients for a celebrant live television audience.
Coach Nasir is a Millennial who played for Vichenza in the inaugural Eid Baibalaa Challenge in 1996.
The coach stressed the importance of prayer & faith coupled with team spirit as the foundation of success.
When asked to say a few words to the players, I realized the older players were in their early 30s and most of the younger players were in their 20s. Most players were not even born at the time of the first championship. Richard, who was the founder of the club must have been only 5 years old at the time. Today, Baibalaa is transitioning from the generation of “Millennials” to the “Gen Z”.
Modern Baibalaa was re-branded in 1996. It was the age of “Gen X”. I could not help but remark that I was a young 66 years old and out of the “zone” speaking to you about Baibalaa today. The players chuckled with mixed feelings!
Baibalaa was re-branded during the time of the “Gen X” in 1996. Thirty years on, the players are now transitioning from Millennials to the Gen Z. The third generation of Baibalaa!
Luckily, the Wolves coach Ahmed Nasir recognized me. He was a Millennial in his fifties. Coach Nasir played in the first competition. Nasir played for Vichenza at the time. This was the period modern Baibalaa was borne. Baibalaa adopted many modern innovations turning the game into a sport watched by the whole family on prime-time television and followed on radio. Thereon, Baibalaa got firmly established as part of National Eid Celebrations!
Coach Nasir played fro Vichenza.
Coach Nasir was a blast from the past! Nasir reminisced he played for Vichenza and their second team Andhiri Andhirin was renamed Teen Age by me! I was the Announcer, and by default, the innovator and curator of the sport as it evolved into a fully codified sport with written Rules and Regulations to cover all aspects of the game. Here is a video from the inaugural championships of 1996.
The Wolves and Alpha Wolves in training 8 March 2026
Thank you Wolves
I thank Wolves Founder Richard and their players and officials for his gracious invitation to see their team in training. I look forward to this year’s Eid Baibalaa Season. Remember, a competitor will always lie in wait. Like a Wolf! Good Luck.
