SWAFF: 2018 FIFA World Cup Heralds Turning Point For Football’s Frontier Nations

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South West Asian Football Federation

31 May, 2018, 23:01 GMT

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, June 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

  • Green Light For New SWAFF Region To Help More Nations Qualify For Football World Cup Events. 
  • 13 founding members to include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE 
  • SWAFF initiative hailed as 'milestone' in development of frontier football nations.
  • "We want to see more nations from the region represented at major international football events including the World Cup and to become a presence in world football." - President & Chairman of Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Dr Adel Ezzat.
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From left to right: Karma Tsering Sherpa, President All Nepal Football Association Ahmad Alrashdi, Board Member, Oman Football Association Basaam Adeel Jaleel, President, Football Association of Maldives Anura De Silva, President, Football Federation of Sri Lanka Ebrahim Saad Al Buainain, General Secretary, Bahrain Football Association Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, President, Pakistan Football Federation Dr Adel Ezzat, President, Saudi Arabian Football Federation Kazi Salahuddin, President, Bangladesh Football Federation Mohammed Hazzam Al Dhaheri, General Secretary, UAE Football Association Subrata Dutta, Vice President, East India, All India Football Federation Hassan Bashanfar, Board Member, Yemen Football Association Said Al Bulushi, General Secretary, Oman Football Association Luai Alsubaiey, General Secretary, Saudi Arabian Football Association (PRNewsfoto/SWAFF)

Planning is underway to develop football in nations at the new frontier of this, the world's most popular game. The sporting, community and commercial potential of the game are now being developed in South and West Asia.

     (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/699476/SWAFF_Members.jpg )

Presidents of football federations in South and West Asia met in Jeddah Thursday with a senior FIFA official attending as an observer to start the formal process of establishing a new body for football to be known as the South West Asian Football Federation (SWAFF). 

The nations represented at the meeting included Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Maldives, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates.

The new organisation has been designed to improve the quality of football for people of all ages, genders and levels of ability in the region, which includes some of the world's biggest frontier football nations such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and marks the next stage in the evolution of world football.

"The nations of South and West Asia want to work with each other to grow football in the region, and to compete on a more equal playing field at future World Cup competitions and international tournaments," Dr Adel Ezzat, President and Chairman of Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said after the meeting.

Saudi Arabia is committed to help grow and resource football in the new region, Dr Ezzat said. 

The historic meeting heralds the dawn of a new era to build football's competitiveness and capacity in the sports-oriented countries of South and West Asia.

"The initiative of SWAFF is a milestone in the development of football in Pakistan and other nations. There is no doubt it is a new frontier of football…," said Makhdoom Faisal Hayat, president of the Pakistan Football Federation.

Saudi Arabia is the only nation in the region to reach the Finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and is scheduled to play Russia in the opening game of world football's showcase event.

"We want to see the region become a presence in world football," Dr Ezzat said.

The new body plans to work with partners, governments, federations and other interested parties in the region to establish new football facilities, academies, and competitions, which will be developed in harmony and in collaboration with FIFA, AFC, and Football Federations within South and West Asia, and within existing football structures, schedules and commitments.

"When we spoke about governance, FIFA is really supporting and encouraging such initiatives, Gianni (Fifa President Gianni Infantino), by himself also welcomed the initiative,"  said Abdulla Aljunaibi, vice-president of the UAE football federation.

Funds from new football events and commercial programs will be reinvested into football development to help create a new football sector and culture in member nations that is self-sufficient and fully transparent.

For further information about SWAFF please go to http://www.SWAFF.org 

Please Note: Video and photographic material relating to SWAFF and the formation meeting can be accessed at Thomson Reuters, AP, and Getty in the usual ways. See also https://vimeo.com/272835410

VNR:

Shot List:

  1. 0.0" - 0.52" G/vs national football federations meeting
  2. 0.52" - 1.36" We see Dr Adel Ezzat, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation who chaired the meeting
  3. 1.36" - 1.43" South West Asian Football Federation logo
  4. 1.43" - 1.53" Cutaway of photographers
  5. 1.53" - 2.37" Delegates 'team photo' as they lift SWAFF footballs
  6. 2.37" - 2.50" FIFA representative Nodar Akhalkatsi
  7. 2.50" - 3.37" SOUNDBITE Dr Adel Ezzat, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation
  8. 3.37" - 4.22" SOUNDBITE Makhdoom Falsal Hayat, President Pakistan Football Federation
  9. 4.22" - 4.45" SOUNDBITE Subrata Dutta, Chairman Indian Football Federation   
  10. 4.45" - 5.17" SOUNDBITE Abdulla Al Junaibi, Vice-President UAE Football Federation  
  11. 5.17" - 5.19" SOUNDBITE - Interviewer question  
  12. 5.19" - 5.32" SOUNDBITE Bassam Adeel Jaleel, President Football Association of Maldives