Freestyle Football Mastery Comes to Kandima’s Shores
As autumn settles across the Indian Ocean, the Maldivian resort welcomes one of the Gulf's finest footballers for a week of skill, athleticism and celebration of the beautiful game.
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There is a particular quality to October on a Maldivian island: the light softens, the rhythm of the resort slows into a gentler cadence, and the month becomes an opportunity for something altogether more purposeful. At Kandima, this autumn momentum gathers around football, with the arrival of Hadiya Hakeem, a professional freestyle footballer whose technical mastery and creative brilliance have drawn admiration across the Gulf region. From 23 to 28 October, she brings her distinctive artistry to the three kilometre island, transforming its pitch and beaches into a setting where skill, family and the pure joy of play converge.
Hadiya’s journey through football has taken her to some of the game’s grandest stages. Having grown up playing in Qatar, she has cultivated an international following through her creativity and technical precision, her presence felt at significant football moments and brand collaborations across the region. Now, at Kandima, she distils that expertise into a programme structured for every level of experience and age. The opening day establishes the momentum, with registration, family warm ups and a skills assessment that sets the tone for what follows. The subsequent days unfold with architectural precision: ball work and fundamentals give way to beach football on the island’s sandy stretches, then to agility and tournament play, building toward a grand finale of all star matches and family competitions.
A Celebration of Women in Football
At the heart of the week lies 25 October, dedicated exclusively to women’s football. This session, led by Hadiya herself, creates a welcoming sanctuary for players of all backgrounds, from those who have played competitively to those returning to the game after years away. Skills training, shooting drills and friendly matches unfold in an atmosphere of encouragement and camaraderie, honouring both the technical and social dimensions of sport.
The Oktober Adventures extend well beyond football. Sebastian Melrose, a professional racing driver, brings speed and precision to Fast Track, the resort’s oceanfront e go kart circuit, whilst BM Tennis Lifestyle’s coaches offer one to one tuition and family sessions throughout the month. Water based pursuits through Aquaholics expand the possibilities, from jet skiing to guided dives and snorkeling. Evenings transform the island through curated theme nights: the ethereal glow of the White Party, the rhythmic energy of Latin Night, and the playful theatricality of Halloween Haunted Adventures toward the month’s close.
What distinguishes this gathering is its philosophy of inclusion. Football becomes not merely a sport but a medium through which families connect, where children and parents discover new capabilities, and where talent shares generously with those still learning. The island, for this week in particular, becomes a place where athletic excellence and authentic hospitality coexist, where the sound of a ball meeting a boot echoes across sand and grass alike, and where October transforms into a month remembered for more than weather and calendar.
Imagery courtesy of Kandima Maldives (@kandima_maldives).
