'Bangladesh on the right track'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter gives a football a ceremonious kick to inaugurate the Astroturf at the Balur Math adjacent to the BFF House yesterday. PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN

FIFA can help Bangladesh, but in order to become a prosperous football nation, we would have to work together to make it possible. This was the message communicated to the waiting press and dignitaries by FIFA president Sepp Blatter in a press conference at the BFF House yesterday.
"As the Holy Book says," said Blatter, "help yourselves and Heaven will help you."
"We [FIFA] can help with manpower, with finances, but in the end it is you yourselves who have to do the job," said Blatter in a call-to-arms for a country of 160 million to establish themselves on the football map of the world.
"Bangladesh are on the right track," urged Blatter before showing that he had done his homework on the recent results of the national team.
"You have beaten [Lebanon] who has made it into the next phase of World Cup qualifying. So the trajectory is right," he said.
Blatter, who was on a 21-hour journey of the capital to inaugurate the artificial turf at the Balur Math under FIFA's Goal 2 project, also announced the inception of Bangladesh's first ever football academy in Sylhet through the initiation of the Goal 3 project. Under it, FIFA will provide the academy support both financially and technically for a three-year period up to 2014, a tenure which could be extended following review. The academy will be home to forty U16 and U18 players, all of whom would be chosen by FIFA's advance scouting team which will arrive in early April.
Blatter also promised further support for BFF.
"FIFA will take care of associations like yours, who are in uncomfortable situations. We have to share our initiatives because football is a school of life for discipline and combat," he said.
He also said that a FIFA Development Committee meeting was scheduled for the end of March from where there might be some more positive news for Bangladesh, "…provided I have support from my finance people," he said with a pointed look at Executive Committee member, Manilal Fernando.
Blatter's second visit to Bangladesh showed FIFA's supremo had lost none of his charm from his last trip in 2006 despite numerous criticisms that have been levelled at him over the years. Perhaps the only thing that had changed are the men around him, with his entourage including the acting AFC president Zhang Jilong, and FIFA's development manager David Borja and development officer Shaji Prabhakaran for the region among others.
The BFF boss Kazi Salahuddin welcomed the FIFA supreme by saying, “Although it is sad that we have lost some of the popularity of the game, but now we are joyous that the FIFA president Sepp is here and now it is our job and your job to bring back the past glory of football.”
Blatter though was as captivating as ever, brushing off an organisational gaffe with quick wit and humour.
The highpoint was his dry humour in batting away a question about whether South Asia could host the World Cup in the near future with Bangladesh as a co-host.
"Not till 2030," said Blatter. "The hosts till 2022 are decided and in 2026 the World Cup can't come back to Asia, but maybe in 2030?"
On a more realistic note, Blatter urged Bangladesh to develop infrastructure citing that at least four international standard stadiums would be required to host any international FIFA tournament.
"Once you have the right infrastructure, you can ask for U-17 WC or maybe regional tournaments, be it country or club. But you have to look forward, and the sub-continent, I am sure, will one day have access to the World Cup," he said to much applause.
But as the questions petered out to less important details, the main message had already been passed. A key landmark had been achieved with the launching of the academy and if Blatter is to be taken at his word, FIFA look set to play an important role to develop the beautiful game in this part of the world. But only if we pursue it with our usual qualities of vigour and enthusiasm.
"Football is about passion," finished Blatter. "It's about emotion. So go on, go on."