Platini sees eastern promise

UEFA President Michel Platini visited Armenia and Azerbaijan for talks with government and football representatives. Mr Platini accompanied FIFA President Joseph S Blatter on the visit, which also saw the two football leaders inaugurate football installations built with the help of FIFA and UEFA assistance programmes.

National team centre
In Armenia, the FIFA and UEFA Presidents came together in the capital Yerevan with Football Federation of Armenia President Ruben Hayrapetyan, and marked the beginning of construction of Armenia's new national team training centre and football academy by burying a time capsule with a message for future generations. The installations are being built with the help of major assistance programmes for the football family – the FIFA Goal project and UEFA HatTrick scheme.

Game for millions
At the FC Banants youth academy, the Presidents had the opportunity to show their appreciation of the work done by club youth coaches. "We will support Armenia in every possible way for the good of your children and future players," said Mr Platini. "Football is not about politics. It is a game for millions of people and we are delighted to see that the standard of Armenian football is improving so rapidly."

President's advice
Youngsters at the Malatia football school were delighted to meet the two dignitaries. "Here's my advice to you – think ahead. That's what makes you a great player," Mr Platini told them. "Not everyone can grow up to be a star like Platini," added Mr Blatter. "But whatever happens, football will have made you better people. It is a sport which requires personal discipline and respect for others."

Full backing
On the diplomatic front, Messrs Blatter, Platini and Hayrapetyan met Armenia's President Robert Kocharyan and Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. "We received full backing from the Armenian government. State governors have promised us that they will do everything necessary for football's development in Armenia in the future. We welcome such an approach," said Mr Blatter afterwards.

Honour for country
Mr Sargsyan expressed hope for the further development of football as a popular mass attraction in Armenia because, as he said, "football is a school for life". "The presidents of two important football bodies are making their first official trip together, and it is to Armenia," added the country's youth and sports minister Armen Grygoryan. "It is an honour for our country."

Baku House of Football
The party moved on to Azerbaijan, where Mr Blatter and Mr Platini inaugurated the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan's impressive new House of Football in the capital, Baku – built with the help of the Goal and HatTrick projects.

For the good of children
Mr Platini encouraged Azerbaijan to work diligently to nurture its football. "FIFA and UEFA have given you the means to create an infrastructure, and that's the first step," he explained. "Now it's up to you to carry out development work and train good educators – for the good of your children, who will perhaps become great players one day." Mr Blatter added: "I believe your football will continue to advance with giant strides." Both leaders stressed the efforts being made to create unity in world football and to develop the game.

Creating interest
"I want to create interest in football among the young people in our country. That's why we ran street football and seven-a-side tournaments around the country this summer," said AFFA general secretary Elkhan Mammadov. "They were a huge success, not least in media terms. We now have to continue in this vein, which means travelling everywhere and going into the countryside to provide the means to help youngsters play and train. That's exactly what FIFA and UEFA are helping us to do."

Meeting with president
Following a visit to the state university, where the two Presidents were greeted enthusiastically, the delegation met the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, an avid fan of sport, who assured Messrs Blatter and Platini of his continued support and enthusiasm for football in the country. Mr Platini was awarded Azerbaijan's Order of Glory by Mr Aliyev.