The International Association of Football Federation (FIFA) is looking to expand and reach out to more member associations all around the world to help develop football at grassroots level.
In order to do that, FIFA will be setting up nine offices all around the world, including one in Kuala Lumpur.
As part of the “FIFA Forward” Program, FIFA will also be providing financial aid to member associations to help achieve their target in developing football at grassroots level.
The six confederations under the “FIFA Forward” program will receive at least US$10mil a year.
“Basically, FIFA are going to invest US$4bil in football development over the next decade to all the member countries. It is the most amount of money ever provided for development in the history of world sport.” said FIFA’s Asia-Oceania director of Member Associations, B. Sanjeevan.
“Gianni Infantino wanted a comprehensive one plan – one programme – called ‘FIFA Forward’ – giving it to everyone on an equal basis. The Star quoted him as saying.
When asked about the regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Sanjeevan revealed that he will head the office that will be located in KL Sentral.
“As the director of the region, I will directly supervise the staff in this region. That’s how we are coming closer to the member associations.” he said.
“So this office in KL is there to assists all the member associations in the Asia-Ocenia region – to help them with preparing the drafting of the contract so we can monitor their planning and projects.”
“We have already rented space in KL Sentral and now we are in the midst of hiring a development manager and project co-ordinators.” Sanjeevan added.
“We want to show that FIFA are here, and not sitting in our ivory tower in Zurich! We are here with them to help develop together.”
Sanjeevan also added that Malaysia has applied for some projects via the “FIFA Forward” program, and he will meet with FAM’s new president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim at the upcoming FIFA Congress in Bahrain to discuss the ideas further.
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