Platini sees eastern promise
Thursday 18 October 2007-

»UEFA President Michel Platini visited Armenia and
Azerbaijan for talks with government and football
representatives. Mr Platini accompanied FIFA President
Joseph S Blatter on the visit, which also saw the two
football leaders inaugurate football installations
built with the help of FIFA and UEFA assistance
programmes.

National team centre
In Armenia, the FIFA and UEFA Presidents came together
in the capital Yerevan with Football Federation of
Armenia President Ruben Hayrapetyan, and marked the
beginning of construction of Armenia’s new national
team training centre and football academy by burying a
time capsule with a message for future generations.
The installations are being built with the help of
major assistance programmes for the football family –
the FIFA Goal project and UEFA HatTrick scheme.

Game for millions
At the FC Banants youth academy, the Presidents had
the opportunity to show their appreciation of the work
done by club youth coaches. "We will support Armenia
in every possible way for the good of your children
and future players," said Mr Platini. "Football is not
about politics. It is a game for millions of people
and we are delighted to see that the standard of
Armenian football is improving so rapidly."

President’s advice
Youngsters at the Malatia football school were
delighted to meet the two dignitaries. "Here’s my
advice to you – think ahead. That’s what makes you a
great player," Mr Platini told them. "Not everyone can
grow up to be a star like Platini," added Mr Blatter.
"But whatever happens, football will have made you
better people. It is a sport which requires personal
discipline and respect for others."

Full backing
On the diplomatic front, Messrs Blatter, Platini and
Hayrapetyan met Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan
and Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. "We received full
backing from the Armenian government. State governors
have promised us that they will do everything
necessary for football’s development in Armenia in the
future. We welcome such an approach," said Mr Blatter
afterwards.

Honour for country
Mr Sargsyan expressed hope for the further development
of football as a popular mass attraction in Armenia
because, as he said, "football is a school for life".
"The presidents of two important football bodies are
making their first official trip together, and it is
to Armenia," added the country’s youth and sports
minister Armen Grygoryan. "It is an honour for our
country."

Baku House of Football
The party moved on to Azerbaijan, where Mr Blatter and
Mr Platini inaugurated the Association of Football
Federations of Azerbaijan’s impressive new House of
Football in the capital, Baku – built with the help of
the Goal and HatTrick projects.

For the good of children
Mr Platini encouraged Azerbaijan to work diligently to
nurture its football. "FIFA and UEFA have given you
the means to create an infrastructure, and that’s the
first step," he explained. "Now it’s up to you to
carry out development work and train good educators –
for the good of your children, who will perhaps become
great players one day." Mr Blatter added: "I believe
your football will continue to advance with giant
strides." Both leaders stressed the efforts being made
to create unity in world football and to develop the
game.

Creating interest
"I want to create interest in football among the young
people in our country. That’s why we ran street
football and seven-a-side tournaments around the
country this summer," said AFFA general secretary
Elkhan Mammadov. "They were a huge success, not least
in media terms. We now have to continue in this vein,
which means travelling everywhere and going into the
countryside to provide the means to help youngsters
play and train. That’s exactly what FIFA and UEFA are
helping us to do."

Meeting with president
Following a visit to the state university, where the
two Presidents were greeted enthusiastically, the
delegation met the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham
Aliyev, an avid fan of sport, who assured Messrs
Blatter and Platini of his continued support and
enthusiasm for football in the country. Mr Platini was
awarded Azerbaijan’s Order of Glory by Mr Aliyev.

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