Former Maldivian football star Mohamed Arif (Baka) has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the ADK Hospital in Male’ City.

The 38-year-old recently returning to Maldives after travelling to Saudi Arabia at a special invite from the Saudi king to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage.

Baka was reportedly taken to the hospital after he had trouble breathing, most likely because of a respiratory infection.

He had been ill when he returned from hajj.

Known informally as the “hajj cough”, respiratory tract infections tend to spread among pilgrims, in the crowded conditions of the pilgrimage to Mecca.

During his successful footballing career, Baka played club football for VB Addu FC, Maziya SRC, New Radiant SC, and Club Eagles. In 2015, he moved to Myanmar to play for Kanbawza FC – a Burmese football club based in Taunggyi, Myanmar. He later moved back to Male’ and played for Club Valencia.

The midfielder also played for the national football club and was part of the squad which won the SAFF Championship in 2008.