Kandima Maldives awards Man of the Match to Liverpool FC’s Joe Gomez

28 November, 2022

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is supposed to be relaxing on holiday while his team-mates toil at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but he couldn’t resist pulling on his boots to take part in an unusual friendly this week.

The 25-year-old jetted off to Kandima Maldives resort during the current break in the Premier League season but ended up playing with fellow holiday makers in an impromptu match.

The Kandima Maldives resort features a football pitch nestled beside the Indian Ocean and that proved too much to resist for Gomez.

Known for its active, lifestyle experiences, Kandima’s guests were treated to a very special football match on their dedicated football pitch in the Indian Ocean.

Liverpool FC defender, Joe Gomez commented: “It’s not often you go on holiday to somewhere as amazing and remote as the Maldives (and they have their own football pitch)! We had a fantastic stay at Kandima, and as well as being a great place to relax there are endless activities and experiences to enjoy! Being able to take part in a fun football match with the guests and staff at the resort, was a real highlight of the week for me!”

Jean-Louis Ripoche, Kandima’s General Manager comments, “It was a wonderful moment for our guests to enjoy this rare opportunity to play with football star Joe Gomez on our very own football field. It was very generous of Joe to give up his time to play a game with our guests and the Kandima team. We hope to welcome him back again in the near future.”

As well as Joe Gomez and his family, Kandima has welcomed a hat trick of European footballers in 2022.  Italian football superstars, Davide Calabria (AC Milan) and Patrick Cutrone (Club Empoli / Wolverhampton Wanderers) stayed at the island resort in early 2022, as well as the Spanish footballer, Alex Centelles.

Gomez’s football career began at just 13 years old when his potential was recognised by the U18 team at Charlton Athletic. He progressed rapidly through the club’s academy and was rewarded with caps for England at U16, U17 and U19 before joining Liverpool FC. In 2017 he earned an England cap.

In addition to ample secluded spots to kick back and relax, for guests who like to keep fit whilst on holiday, Kandima boasts state-of-the-art fitness facilities. These include a BURN Fitness Centre with its own private swimming pool, a fitness pavilion, tennis, badminton, and beach volleyball courts, and one of the longest swimming pools in the Maldives – Breeze Pool, plus a stunning three-km long beach perfect for morning runs.