BLATTER AND PLATINI VISIT ARMENIA

FIFA.com
Oct 17 2007

Monday 15 October. The atmosphere on board the jet taking FIFA
President Joseph S. Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini to
Armenia is relaxed, despite the layer of fog hanging over Switzerland
which delays the take-off. Since the former French midfield maestro
took over the reins at UEFA, the governing bodies of European and
world football have begun to work together ever more closely – a fact
illustrated on a down-to-earth level by the conversations and jokes
shared by the two presidents.

A few hours later, Blatter and Platini land in Yerevan for a 24-hour
visit to inaugurate a number of Goal projects before heading off
to Azerbaijan. The Armenian capital is in the midst of an Indian
summer – ideal weather for the two Presidents to lay the keystone of
the country’s second Goal project – the National Technical Centre,
and to visit the ‘Republican Football School’. a training centre
which was built as part of Goal project I. At the inaugural dinner,
the Armenian Minister for Youth and Sports Armen Grygoryan noted
that "this was the first time that the Presidents of the two most
important governing bodies in world football had travelled together
on official business. That they should do so in Armenia is an honour
for our country."

This was music to the ears of the Swiss and the Frenchman, whose main
aim it is to show that football is one united family. They had a number
of fruitful, no-holds-barred discussions with Mr Grygoryan and Ruben
Hayrapetyan, President of the Armenian Football Federation, on such
subjects as the Sotchy Olympic Games in Russia in 2014, the stadium
in Donetsk for the UEFA EURO 2012, the recent performances of France
and Portugal and the level of domestic football in Armenia – the kind
of wide range of topics you would expect from genuine football fans.

The following morning, Messrs Blatter and Platini had an audience with
the President of Armenia, Mr Robert Kocharian, and Prime Minister Mr
Serzh Sargsyan. The head of the Armenian Republic was delighted with
"the excellent result of the national team over Serbia recently",
while the prime minister hoped that there would be a development in
"football played by the masses, as this sport is part of the school of
life". They were all in agreement with the FIFA and UEFA Presidents
who said that "the cooperation between governmental bodies and the
federation needs to carry on improving" for the good of football
in Armenia.

The various dignitaries met with representatives of Armenian football
for a typical lunch punctuated by a number of toasts before heading to
the Coaching Centre, where the foundation stone for the Goal project
II was finally laid – later than originally planned but finally
underway thanks to the determination of those in charge of Armenian
football. "This centre is not for the players currently exceeding all
expectations in the qualifiers for the EURO but for you, the youth of
the country," said Blatter to the enormous crowd of youngsters who had
come to see the Presidents of FIFA and UEFA in the flesh. "Who knows,
maybe we will see you at the World Cup in 2014 or 2018." "Armenians
are a wonderful people," added Platini. "Charles Aznavour spoke about
them in his songs and he was right."

‘Football makes us better people’ Then it was on to Goal project I –
the Malatia football school inaugurated in 2003. Some 700 youngsters
aged between 7-17 have already attended the school and learned
footballing skills within a structured environment. In Armenia,
football is in a healthy state and is still the number one sport in
the country, and when Messrs Blatter and Platini arrive, the school
is packed to the gunwales with wide-eyed youngsters.

"I played in three World Cups and scored a lot of goals, so here’s
my advice to you – anticipate, think ahead. That’s what makes you
a great player," Platini told the children. "Not everyone can grow
up to be a star like Platini," added Blatter, "but whatever happens,
football will have made you better people. It is a sport that requires
personal discipline and respect for others."

"Enjoy the game and enjoy life," concluded the FIFA President as
cheers rang out from the children and teenagers present. Then it was a
dash back to the hotel for a press conference. The Armenia-Azerbaijan
matches were of course discussed, as was the issue of foreign players
in club football, while Blatter and Platini each reiterated the
"desire of FIFA and UEFA to work together to contribute even more
to the development of countries like Armenia, who are working their
way up into the elite of football, as their recent results against
Portugal, Poland and Serbia have proved".

Twenty four hours in Armenia were enough to see how the support
provided by FIFA and UEFA is helping the development of football and
the wave of hope sweeping over the country, as well as the long road
still ahead of them.