President of FIFA, Joseph Blatter, AFC President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and President of the Qatar Football Association Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani will head the VIP delegation that will arrive in Sri Lanka on the 1st of December for the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.
During their brief 36 hour visit to Sri Lanka, Blatter and the delegation will meet with HE President Mahinda Rajapakse, declare open the much anticipated and long awaited Football Stadium in Jaffna, meet with the local football community and preside over a banquet to celebrate the 75th anniversary of local football.
According to President FFSL, Ranjith Rodrigo, Blatter along with the delegations presence here will give local football a tremendous boost.
“Mr. Blatter’s presence at our 75th anniversary celebrations will give local football a much needed fillip. Sri Lankan football is honoured with the presence of so many distinguished visitors, while the inauguration of the ‘One Goal’ theme, the unveiling of the 75th Anniversary logo, presentations to three of our very own ‘Football Legends’ and the launch of a brand new football team jersey , are all on the cards”.
Blatter was first elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange, and has since been re-elected as President in 2002, 2007 and 2011, while Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has been the President of the Asian Football Confederation since 2 May 2013. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani a member of the ruling Al Thani Qatari royal family, was the ruling Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013. A sportsman and an accomplished diver, Sheikh Hamad was instrumental in winning the right to stage the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha, the first event of its kind to occur in the Middle East.
In May this year, Ranjith Rodrigo, was the Guest of Honour at the grand finale of the Emir’s Cup held on 18th May, 2014 at the Al Kalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar.
