FIFA delegation conducts feasibility study on FSL strategic plans

Friday, 8 December 2023 00:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

FIFA Consultant Stuart Michal Regan (on left) and Football Sri Lanka President Jaswar Umar briefing the media on FIFA representative’s visit to Sri Lanka

By Althaf Nawaz

World Football governing body FIFA has sent a delegation to Sri Lanka to conduct a feasibility study on the strategic plans of Football Sri Lanka (FSL) on how best to restart the game in the country.

A three-member delegation headed by FIFA Consultant Stuart Michal Regan, FIFA Lead Regional Office-South Asia Prince Rufus and FIFA Regional Technical Development Office-South Asia Chokey Nima are the officials who made a brief visit to the country.

During their stay, they met FSL President Jaswar Umar and the rest of his executive committee to do a feasibility study on the set up and the plans of the local football administration. They have focused on the three key important components; Commercial, Technical and Operational with FSL. They are focusing on supporting short, medium and long term plans which will span about 16 to 18 months.

The delegation also met the Sports Minister and other key stakeholders of the game, with whom they had lengthy discussions on various aspects of development with regard to the game.

“We are happy to have met various stakeholders connected to football in Sri Lanka during our stay. With the participation of the President, we met the exco and the staff of FSL. They shared lots of information, which was quite useful in our endeavours. This will make our task easy. With FIFA 3.0 forward programme, many countries stand to benefit, including Sri Lanka.”

FIFA has indicated their support by appointing a Chief Executive Officer and a Tournament Director, who are likely to be two foreigners.

“Without the basic infrastructure it is very difficult to boost the game. Therefore, there is long process listed here which cannot be done overnight and will be time consuming. Overall, FIFA has shown real keenness of restarting Football and booming the game in this country according to a well-executed plan,” said Stuart Michal Regan.

The FSL boss elaborated briefly on their plans and was quite optimistic that he and his executive committee is up to the task of rejuvenating the game in the country. After winning the elections last September to serve a four-year term, Jaswar said AFC and FIFA will render their fullest support and as an initiative, the world governing body has sent this delegation to discuss the way forward in a transparent manner.

“We are thankful to FIFA for sending a delegation to visit our country after a long layover. We have had a lengthy discussion with them and met several stakeholders, including the Sports Minister, who was very optimistic to support us in our endeavours.”

“This program will enable us to build the infrastructure of the federation which is mandatory if we are to rise to next level. Several new recruitment have to be done, including appointment of a CEO and a Tournament Director, probably two foreigners. Once all the infrastructure is completed, then people of this country will see how the game will boom.”

“Moreover, we have laid out big plans for resumption of the game beginning next year with inflow of the funds granted to us by FIFA, for which we are finalising all necessary documents and anticipate to get the grants by end of next month, after which a new chapter in Football will commence.” concluded Jaswar.