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Will meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa:
Hammam certain of being retained as Executive Member of FIFA for
Asia
Manilal Fernando spearheads push:
Elmo rodrigopulle
Manilal Fernando will spearhead the Football Federation’s push and
will canvass vigorously to see that Mohammed Bin Hammam, who is the
President of the Asian Football Federation retains his seat in FIFA as
the Executive Member from Asia.
Bin Hammam will arrive in the island today with a team of 45
officials, including 18 voting members of the Asian Football
Confederation in which our own Fernando is a senior Vice President.
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That certain smile and partners in progress - Manilal
Fernando (left) and Bin Hamman |
Delegation
Fernando has arranged for Bin Hammam and his delegation to meet Sri
Lanka’s sports loving President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Hammam has been a true friend of Sri Lanka and its football and has
assisted in numerous ways - youth, refereeing, development programs and
in goal projects as chairman of Goal Bureau FIFA.
No stranger
Hammam is no stranger to Sri Lanka having visited the island five
times before. He was first here to open ‘Football House’, the
administration unit of FFSL, the Baddegama Training Centre. He also was
here to inspect the FIFA/AFC Tsunami Project. He allocated nearly USD 3
million for the re-structuring and re-building of the centres affected
by the tsunami.
Hammam is always focused on looking after the well-being of less
privileged countries and developing countries in Asia. In this aspect
Sri Lanka has benefitted by his Vision Asia Program and helps in the
development of youth grassroots football by organising special grants
from AFC.
Top post
Hammam achieved the top post in the AFC by his dynamic leadership and
unassuming ways.
He is determined to see that the game in Asia excels in the
international arena.
“It is my desire to see Asian Football excel in the international
stage. Despite the size of the continent and the difficulties, we have
in developing football, Asia has made much progress in the past decade.
I believe, it will not be long to make an even bigger impact on world
football”. It is time, especially for the developing countries in Asia
to be towers of strength to him, and show our gratitude for Hammam’,
said Sri Lanka’s big boss of the game Manilal Fernando.
Hammam also visited the country to attend the funeral of the late J.
S. N. Anandaraja (Senior VP, FFSL) to sympathise with his family members
and initiated a fund with his personal contribution and collected USD
100,000 for the well-being of the family of late Anandaraja who like
Fernando was a great friend and admirer of Hammam.
Manilal Fernando and football family of Sri Lanka extends a warm
welcome to Bin Hammam and his delegation.
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