FFSL gears up for FIFA President’s visit next week

Friday, 28 November 2014 01:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Malik Gunatilleke The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) will welcome FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter along with a high level entourage on 1 December as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Qatar Football Federation President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani along with other FIFA and AFC officials and MA Presidents from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE and Saudi Arabia will arrive with Blatter by private jet on 1 December. The delegation will meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and travel to Jaffna on 2 December to open the new Jaffna Stadium. The delegation is also set to attend the celebratory banquet at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo on 2 December, where the FFSL will launch the first-ever official national football jersey of Sri Lanka while honouring some of the legends of Sri Lankan football. Speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the FFSL headquarters, FFSL President Ranjith Rodrigo stated that this was a tremendous opportunity for Sri Lankan football to get a much-needed boost. “Mr. Blatter’s visit is a great honour for us and it will work to boost local football. We will also launch the National Football Trust, unveil the official 75th anniversary logo, honour three of our own football legends and launch the new national football jersey,” he said. Rodrigo went on to state that the Jaffna Stadium was probably the biggest of its kind in Sri Lanka with all the best facilities. He said that the stadium would need an additional six months to be prepared for use while adding that it would be handed over to the Jaffna Football League after that period. A total of Rs. 16 million was spent on the stadium. In addition to declaring open the Jaffna stadium, Blatter will also meet with the local football community and participate in a grassroots level football program with around 250 children. “The banquet will also be a very important event. We are inviting the players, the referees, the media and the officials to come celebrate this occasion. This is a great moment for Sri Lankan football,” Rodrigo stated. The FIFA President and his delegation will depart the island on 3 December.