FIFA assures support to Sri Lanka
FIFA President Gianni Infantino met Sri Lanka Football President Jaswar Umar last week in Doha, Qatar at the FIFA President’s Asian Office. Both Presidents discussed a range of topics, including development, governance, and activities that can have a social impact through football.
Gianni Infantino assured Jaswar that FIFA will fully support his good efforts to ‘re-start football’ after the COVID-19 global pandemic virtually crippled all sporting activities for nearly two years.
FIFA President also assured his support for the ongoing efforts to revise the FFSL Constitution (Statutes) and set a date for the election of office bearers for the next term of four years. In order to ensure the smooth flow of the ongoing projects, a high-level FIFA – AFC joint mission is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka within the next two weeks (early September). This mission is hoping to meet the Minister of Youth & Sports and FFSL Executive Committee to finalize dates for the revision of the Statutes and election of office bearers.
Jaswar Umar explained FIFA President’s visit to Sri Lanka in November last year had a very positive impact on the youth, and a large number have shown a keen interest in football with renewed hope. A record number of participants (nearly 2000) attended the selection trials for the U-17, U-20, and Women’s National Teams in the last two months. This shows the growing interest among parents to encourage their children towards football. Jaswar Umar’s initiative to ‘re-start football’ after the COVID-19 lockdown was highly successful, with the National Team, Youth Teams, Regional Level Football, Women’s Team and Club Competitions being rejuvenated. His ‘second-version’ of the medium-term plan is set to commence next month.
FIFA will support Sri Lanka in this second version by building a state-of-the-art stadium, construction of pitches in the regions, establishing good governance through a new constitution, coach educational support, youth competitions, technical support and grassroots.
The two Presidents are due to sign an MoU next month to launch a new program “Football for Schools” under the FIFA Foundation, where schools island wide will benefit with equipment and coaching support.