KUALA LUMPUR (Mar 26, 2002) – FIFA Exco Member and Goal Bureau Chairman, Mohamed Hammam Al-Abdulla officially opened the FIFA Goal Workshop here today.

In his opening address, Mohamed said that the FIFA Goal Project, which was initiated by FIFA president Joseph Blatter four years ago, has already reached 117 countries. “Out of this figure, 26 are in Asia,” Mohamed said.

He added that the success of the project so far had prompted Blatter to increase the budget for the next four years. “Countries who have benefitted may benefit again under the new budget.”

The three-day workshop began with the opening paper by Urs Zanitti, the director of the Goal Management team. This was followed by the official opening ceremony in the afternoon.

Manilal Fernando, the Colombo Development Officer, Zanitti and AFC General Secretary, Dato Peter Velappan, all spoke before Mohamed gave his opening address.

Later at the same function, Manilal and Dato’ Paul Mony Samuel, the Development Officer, FIFA Development Office Kuala Lumpur, presented the latest updates of the various projects in Asia.

Apart from Zanitti, the other papers were presented by Dato’ Paul, Dr. Eric Harrison, Keith McAuliffe, Windsor Paul John and Glenn Turner.