The government is in the process of designing programmes to help local athletes in post-retirement career transition, the Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu has revealed.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of national jerseys to the Under-16 national cricket team in the taking part in the ACC Men's East Zone Cup, the Minister noted that education remains as important as sports for athletes.
In line with that reasoning, he assured that the government scholarships available to athletes under the Sports Fund will prioritise education along with sports training.
According to the Minister, the incumbent Administration has launched several initiatives to develop local athletes, adding that the programmes are being designed to help local athletes make career transitions after their retirement.
“We are in the process of designing programmes to help athletes to make career transitions after retirement. That is to invest in the transferable skills of individual athletes. Like if you want to study something else that you may want to do after retiring, whether it's coaching or something else,” he explained.
The Minister said this opportunity would be provided for a certain level of national athletes who meet a specific criteria urging local athletes to play to the best of their abilities to be eligible for such opportunities.