Hammam retains seat in FIFA Ex.Co:

Fernando succeeds in campaign

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

Manilal Fernando, Senior Vice President of the Asian Football Federation and the big boss of Sri Lanka Football scored a golden goal when he succeeded in spearheading the campaign for AFC President, Bin Hammam to retain his seat in the Executive Committee of FIFA.

Incidenttally today is also the birthday of Bin Hammam.

Fernando led a vigorous campaign and in the voting that took place at the Congress, Bin Hammam who is the President of also the Qatar Football Association beat his opponent by 2 votes 23-21.

Fernando in a telephone link up was very ecstatic in breaking the news to me that his candidate for whom he campaigned had succeeded.

“Manilal Fernando has not known defeat or failure. I knew how to lead the campaign and succeed,” said Fernando, who before long could end up being the first Sri Lankan to be the first President of the Asian Football Confederation.

All members of the AFC who voted in favour of Hammam had nothing but praise for the manner in which Fernando led the campaign. Many in the know said that it was a foregone conclusion that Hammam would retain his seat in the FIFA Ex Co, although some had misgivings.

Hammam had said that he would give up the Presidency of AFC if he loses his seat in the FIFA Ex Co. But Hammam did not bargain for the clever campaign by Manilal Fernando. Hammam has been President AFC since 2002.

Hammam has done wonders for Sri Lanka football and the good deeds he had performed are too numerous to mention.

The credit of launching the AFC Champions League and also seeing that Australia belonged to Asia was the work of Hammam. The AFC President and FIFA Ex Co Member has always been focussed in promoting football at grassroot level.

Hammam and his entourage were in Sri Lanka as guests of Manilal Fernando and the Football Federation and inquired about the shortcoming in the game here and Hammam who has been a dear friend of Sri Lankan football said he would do everything in his power to help in the further development and progress of the player and the game here.

Our congratulations to Hammam and Fernando.