The new facility is part of the FIFA Goal Programme – an initiative that enables member associations to implement projects desgined to develop football in their countries – and consists of many impressive features, including modern administration facilities, an education centre, accommodation, dining rooms and kitchens, changing rooms and an international-sized futsal court.
President Chung was joined as an honoured guest at the function by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while FIFA Development Officer for Oceania Glenn Turner was also in attendance.
“This is yet another milestone achievement for football in Fiji and, in particular, the capital city of Suva,” President Chung stated in his address.
“This tremendous new facility will be of great benefit for the administration, management and technical development of football in the country, particularly at the grassroots and youth level.
“OFC has continued to help our member associations progress both on and off the field . There have now been 40 infrastructures built in Oceania under the FIFA Goal Programme and these include many national headquarters, academies and pitches.”
President Chung feels the onus is now on Fiji FA to take advantage of the new facility and use it to produce positive results.
“The challenge is very clear – infrastructure alone cannot develop the game,” he said. “The fine facilities must be matched by good technical programmes.”
The new National Headquarters and Regional Technical Centre will complement the National Football Academy in Ba, construction of which was the first phase of Fiji’s Goal Project. The latest phase has been funded jointly by the Goal Programme and Fiji FA’s own resources and work began following a ground-breaking ceremony in February 2009.
The next stage of the development has been approved as a Goal III Project and will provide additional playing area facilities, work on which will begin next month.
Fiji FA President Rajesh Patel is delighted with the successful completion of the country’s second Goal Project and believes it will soon start to bear fruit.
“This gives us a chance to further develop football in Fiji and accommodate the needs of the various national sides,” he said. “To produce elite footballers we need to set the right platform for them.”
President Patel is grateful to all those who helped get the project off the ground and says it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of FIFA.
“I would like to thank all individuals who have worked tirelessly to assist the national football body in this achievement, particularly FIFA and its president Joseph S. Blatter, who gave the green light and together with Fiji FA accommodated for the cost of the project,” he said.
“As Fiji FA continues to grow we hope that football will do likewise and soon we will achieve our dream of featuring on the highest stage.”
For more on Fiji football go to www.fijifootball.com.fj

Share