FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter touched down in Noumea today for a whirlwind two day visit which will mark his first trip to New Caledonia.
Blatters arrival coincided with the launch of the FIFA Goal Project in Paeta, the final of the OFC Youth Festival and the Christian Karembeu Jubilee match against the World Cup Winning France ’98 side.
Blatter will attend the match and hold a post-match press conference following the OFC Extraordinary Congress on Sunday June 1 2008.
Blatter will then fly direct to Wellington where he will be involved with the draw for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
The FIFA Goal project was a huge sucess in Paeta with a large crowd on hand to welcome in the new program.
It is Blatters first visit to New Caledonia and he will be accompanied by FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke and OFC President/FIFA Vice-President Reynald Temarii.
It is a very exciting time for New Caledonia football fans and tonight’s Jubilee match featuring some of the biggest names in world football has been sold out for months in advance.
Photos by Marc Peretic Wilson