Mohamed Arif


Mohamed Arif, also known as Bakaa is a Maldivian footballer who plays as a Midfielder for Myanmar National league club Kanbawza Football Club and the Maldivian National Team. Arif won the best football player of the year for 2010, and won second best player for the year 2011. He also won third best player for the year 2013.

Club career

IFC / VB Sports Club

The first club he played with was Island Football Club, starting from 2004, which was later re-branded to VB Sports Club in the back in 8 November 2006.

Club Valencia

After leaving VB Sports Club in 2007 he joined Club Valencia for the 2008 season in the Dhivehi League.
He left the club by season end.

New Radiant SC

Arif joined New Radiant SC for the 2009 season of the Dhivehi League. He stayed at the club for two seasons.
2009 and 2010 respectively.

Return to VB Sports Club

Arif returned to VB Sports Club for the 2011 season of the Dhiraagu Dhivehi League and helped the club win the title of Champions of the 2011 season of the Dhiraagu Dhivehi League.

Eagles Sports Club

Arif joined Eagles Sports Club for the 2012 season of the Dhiraagu Dhivehi League. He left the club the season end.

Maziya Sports Club

Arif joined Maziya Sports Club for the 2013 season of the Dhivehi League. At the end of the season, he extended his contract for another year.

Kanbawza Football Club

On 2 January 2014, Arif joined Myanmar's first division and Premier League Club Kanbawza Football Club.

International career

Senior team

Due to his notable skills as a midfielder and his abilities as playmaker it did not take long for him to be noticed and he was soon included in the starting eleven of the National senior team of the Maldives.

2008 SAFF Championship

Bakaa starred in the 2005 SAFF Championship which was hosted by Pakistan. He starred in the 2008 SAFF Championship which was hosted by both Maldives and Sri Lanka, and helped Maldives win their first title in the championship. He also starred in the 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2018 in which Maldives won their 2nd title in the championship SAFF Championship.