Anfa stand to get $1m Fifa grant

KATHMANDU, JUL 13 -

The All Nepal Football Association is set to receive a development grant worth

US$ 1 million from football’s world governing body FIFA for the development of infrastructure, the president of the association Ganesh Thapa confirmed on Thursday.

According to Thapa, Fifa has already approved the association’s request for $ 500,000 for the construction of artificial turfs and another $ 500,000 for the improvement of playing fields and construction of parapets in 10 hill districts with good ground conditions. He said that Fifa’s meeting in September would endorse the sum.

Anfa plans to construct an artificial turf in the Anfa Academy at Satdobato and build a bigger parapet to host international matches.

“We have already started the construction work at the Anfa Academy. Once completed, the venue can host international matches,” said Thapa, who is also the vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation. He revealed that the turf would arrive in Kathmandu by August and the fitting process would be done by September. Elaborating on the improvements of fields in the 10

districts, he said the work would be carried out in Dhankuta, Panchthar, Ilam, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Dolakha, Syangja, Lamjung, Palpa and Baglung, where talents are plenty but are stuggling to achieve their true potential due to lack of facilities.

Anfa plans to provide $ 50,000 each of the 10 districts and will request the local associations to contribute Rs 1.5-2 million for the development work. “We have chosen the hilly districts this time around because it’s relatively easier in Terai to play,” said Thapa. “In the next project we hope to incorporate districts like Bhojpur and Sankhuwasaba.”

Nepal has been benefiting from the Fifa’s $ 400,000 goal project, with two new projects in the offing. The country could be the first in the world to have three Fifa projects running simultaneously, according to Thapa.

  It is learnt that Anfa had presented the proposal to Fifa President Sepp Blatter, requesting for development work when the latter was in Kathmandu for the inauguration of the AFC Challenge Cup in March.

Blatter was pretty much impressed by the Anfa’s development work as well as the game’s popularity in the country though Nepal crashed out with a whimper. The hosts lost all three group matches and without any goal to their credit. The Fifa boss was much keen in developing the women’s game in Nepal, saying “the future of football would be feminine.”

 


Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/13/sports/anfa-stand-to-get-1m-fifa-grant/357051/