Blatter says hard work necessary for football to improve in Sri Lanka

By Ranjan Anandappa

The President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said that Sri Lanka can play an important role in the Asian Region for the game of football because it is a beautiful country with eye catching locations, accommodation and the facilities which could host such events of the game.

He hopes that the AFC will look at this country as a hub in hosting future football events.

The President of AFC was in the Island with the President of Federation International da Football Association (FIFA) Sepp Blatter at the invitation of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka to mark several important events in Sri Lanka's football history such as FFSL's 75th Anniversary, opening of the Jaffna Stadium, the launch of the national football jersey, honouring of three Sri Lankan soccer legends and launch of 'Protect the goal campaign.

"This is my first visit to Sri Lanka since I took over as the AFC president last year, and I must say that today here with my colleague, President of the FIFA Sepp Blatter we are proud to be in this beautiful country.

The memorable occasion as well to mark the 75th anniversary and of course under the leadership of the president of Sri Lankan FA Ranjith Rodrigo. We are very proud that this FA is being in the development of the game, we believe that the progress made in the past twenty months has been remarkable, but there is lot that needs to be done.

Of course, Sri Lanka can play an important role in this region in the game. You have a beautiful country, the accommodation, the facilities that can host such events in the game and I am sure the AFC will look at this country as a hub in hosting football events.

We were honoured to meet the president of the country and minister of sports, we like to thank them for devoting their time and the great hospitality, and I am sure it won't be the first visit by me here to this lovely Island as I am looking forward to working with my colleague.

As I said earlier, this country can play a bigger role in football in this region. Sri Lanka, one time had a good national team and I am sure those days are coming back under the guidance of the President of the country and his government.

The President of the FFSL Ranjith Rodrigo is doing a good job and Sri Lanka's football is in good hands.

Sepp Blatter, the President of the FIFA said that there are 209 national associations under the FIFA.

Some rich countries say that they don't need the support of the of the FIFA, but nobody has said that they don't want to receive it. But solidarity in football is something that will be cherished by all. "How does the game thrive...... and from where does the money comes from? The money have in the FIFA comes from the World Cup.

"So we have to pay attention to the World Cup. It should have the best quality ,the best football like what we have witnessed in Brazil this year.

We have not yet finished all the accounts in the World Cup. We have already paid all the FIFA 209 national associations a 260 thousand dollars special bonus. We can announce now that in January we will pay all national associations again out of the World Cup, a bonus of 500,000 dollars.

This is just to share the benefit of the competition between everybody." said Blatter.

Referring to the 75th anniversary of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, Blatter said that it was an emotional day.

"This is pure emotion, because a few years ago, I wanted to go to Jaffna. For different reasons, I couldn't make it. Last year I tried to come here and it was not possible. Can you imagine what football can do to connect people to the north and south to overcome all the problems created including the Tsunami.

Football in Sri Lanka is getting to their day to day lives and hoping that the game of football will thrive Blatter said and added. "I have seen the grass root presentation on this visit.

It was a great delight to see the young boys and girls at play. Blatter said that he understood the support given by the government for football by the Head of State Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa himself and the Minister of Sports.

When asked whether he was satisfied with Sri Lanka football, Blatter said that he was not.

"You have to work harder as you have lot of support and more support will be coming, and you have to do it. And I am sure something good happens in the future, I'll be back here and answer that question.