When is this Public Holiday?
The Maldives government declared Tuesday 18 September 2018 to be a public holiday to celebrate the country's successful title-winning run at the SAFF Cup after their young side stunned the defending champions India in the final.
Background to this public holiday
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had declared a public holiday to allow the whole country to welcome the team home.
The victory by Maldives national football team on Saturday 15 September 2018 marks the first championship title after a decade.
The Maldives team reached the knockout phase of the competition on the flip of a coin after they had finished level on points with Sri Lanka in their group.
Held every two years, the South Asian Football Federation Championship or SAFF Championship is competed for by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
