MALE, January 18 (HNS) - VB Sports Club goalkeeper Imran Mohamed has renewed his contract with the club despite speculations that he was going to accept an offer to join New Radiant.

VB CEO Gahthan haleem also confirmed the report.

“Today [Monday] he extended his contract to one year. We have offered him the deal even earlier. But we don’t know why it took so long him to confirm it. Maybe he needed time to think about the offers from other clubs,” he said.

The National Team’s player ended his nine-year career in Victory Sports Club and joined VB last year, helping the club win Dhiraagu Dhivehi league and President’s Cup.

Asked why VB Captain Ali ‘Dhagandey’ Ashfaq was not participating in the training sessions, Gahthan said Ashfaq was out of Male but added that he would join the practice yesterday.

VB started its training last week with Turkish coach Bahtiyar Can Vanlı who led the club to last year’s success.

VB has also signed Shamweel ‘Bonda’ Gasim, Mohamed ‘Baka’ Arif, Ismail ‘Issey’ Mohamed, Ismail ‘Messi’ Easa and Farhad ‘Farey’ Ismail.

The club has decided to bring two Brazilian defenders and Sierra Leonean winger Abu Desmond Mansarey. However, the club will not bring Dutch midfielder Cengiz Hussein who played a vital role in its midfield last season.

Meanwhile, 2008 Maldivian Footballer of the Year Muhkhthar ‘2kilo’ Naseer has decided to stay in Victory.

Muhkhthar, who is in his native island on vacation, told Haveeru that he will renew the contract as soon as he reach Male.

Victory will announce its new signings before starting its practice on Thursday.

Haveeru has also confirmed that Mohamed ‘Kudatey’ Shifan has renewed his contract with Victory and former New Radiant forward Fauzan Habeeb has joined the reds.

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MALE, January 20 (HNS) – The most prestigious sports awards ceremony in the Maldives, Haveeru Sports Awards ceremony will be held on January 28.

This year Haveeru is to give a record number of awards to the top players from various sports. With 13 new awards, Haveeru will present 23 awards with cash prize this year.

A Haveeru official said the organisation is trying its best to organise a colourful event.

“All the things in this year’s award night will be perfect. This year, our advertising partner, Think Associates will prepare the stage set, lighting, and sound. Entertainment items will be performed at the award ceremony,” the official said.

Haveeru will also present its special prize this year.

Twenty-three awards will be given in 2010 Sports Awards, including the golden boot being awarded to the top scorer since 1994. The prize money was also increased to Rf250,000 from 2009’s Rf142,000 given to 11 awards.

While Dhiraagu, SIMDI, and Maldivian are the official partners of Haveeru Sports Awards 2010, Happy Market, Sonee Sports, and Allied Insurance are the associate sponsors.

Meanwhile, Haveeru has revealed Footballer of the Year award nominees on the countdown show aired last evening on MNBC One.

Five players nominated to the Footballer of the Year award include VB Sports and national team captain Ali ‘Dhagandey’ Ashfaq, Mohamed Umair, Akram Abdul Ghanee, Mohamed ‘Bakaa’ Arif and Ibrahim ‘Oppo’ Fazeel.

Nominees to the U-21 Best Footballer award are Maziya’s Ali ‘Kalhey’ Nafiu, Valencia’s Ahmed ‘Naatey’ Nashid and Assadulla Abdulla.

Dhagadey has won Haveeru ‘Golden Shoes’ for the fifth time this year after netting 30 goals throughout the season. Haveeru presents Rf20,000 cash prize with the ‘Golden Shoes’ trophy.

VB’s Turkish coach Can Bahthiyar Vanli, Victory’s Ali Suzain, who won the Coach of the Year award last year, and New Radiant’s Mohamed ‘Mohan’ Shiyaz were nominated for Coach of the Year award. Haveeru presents its trophy and Rf15,000 cash prize for the award.

Nominees for the Referee of the Year award include Ahmed Ameez, who won the award for the last two consecutive years, Ali Saleem and Ali Adil.