FIFA, AFC presidents inaugurate new AFC building
KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) yesterday inaugurated its new building to expand its footprints by another 200,000 square feet at its headquarters, the AFC House in Bukit Jalil here.
The building was officiated by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino and AFC President Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa in a grand ceremony attended by members of the AFC Executive Committee as well as Presidents and General Secretaries from across the 47 Member Association (MA).
Financed by the FIFA Forward fund, the new building hoped to further strengthen AFC's ambitions, through its Vision and Mission, to support its MA with greater efficiency.
Shaikh Salman said since opening its doors in November 2017, the new building with modern and dynamic hub for football development, has transformed the delivery of the AFC's many programmes for its MA.
“The investment in this new building underlines our commitment to deliver on that objective. On behalf of the Asian football family, I must convey our appreciation to FIFA for their generosity as well as the Malaysian Government for its dedication to the development of Asian football over the decades. “By nurturing youth development, the grassroots movement and women's football as well as developing quality coaches and highly skilled officials, I am confident that the new and improved AFC House will continue to enable our MAs to reach new levels of excellence,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Infantino said the new modern building is in line with AFC's objective of being a modern and progressive organisation, which is firmly focused on the future.
“It is my pleasure to be here for the inauguration of the new building at the AFC House. I first visited the original building of the AFC just after it was opened and was impressed then.
“It is a matter of pride to be here, to be a part of this inauguration and see that Asian and global football are moving forward handin-hand,” he said.
The building includes a new artificial football pitch, a gym, rehabilitation pool, changing facilities, five meeting rooms as well as a 182-seater auditorium, which has become the setting for various conferences, seminars and workshops, and AFC competition draws that are broadcast live across the world.
It also includes a new executive committee meeting room and lounge as well as an underground parking area for staff and visitors to the AFC House, apart from its new cafeteria.