Fifa team happy with facilities for U-20 cup

The members of the Fifa delegation to inspect the facilities of the UAE to host the 2003 Under 20 Fifa World Cup expressed their delight and satisfaction with what they saw in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Sharjah, the cities that will host the six groups of the competition.

This was announced yesterday in a press conference held at the Abu Dhabi Armed Forces Officers Club and was attended by Michel Bacchini the head of Fifa additional events committee, Julian Stanculescu the event manager, Andreas Wers from the communication division and Sam Huber Fifa marketing agent.

From the UAE, there were Matar Al Tayer, the secretray general of the UAE FA, Ahmed Ali Al Bloushi, the chairman of the media committee, and other members of the organising committee of the event.

"We would like to express our gratitude and thanks to Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE FA, and all the members of the FA for their warm welcome and our comfortable stay in the UAE," Bacchini said.

"We would also like to express our satisfaction with the facilities offered for hosting the event which Fifa regards as its second most important competition after the World Cup for senior teams."

"This is our second visit to the UAE. Our first visit was in June last year and we are glad to confirm that the work on hosting the event have gone a long way and the UAE are well prepared to host the championship.

"They are also determined to achieve success on and off the field with good organisation of the event and preparing a good team to compete in the championship," Bacchini added.

The delegation have inspected the facilities that concern the work of all parts of the game, players, coaches, referees and media men in all stadiums that will host the four groups of the competition in 2003.

"The facilities are great and we are satisfied with them. We told the officials about our proposals regarding some facilities and we have their assurance that work will start soon to accomplish everything we demanded. We believe that the UAE are capable of hosting a memorable event and they are really qualified to achieve unprecedented success."

Al Tayer have started the conference welcoming the delegation on behalf of Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Dhiab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice-President of the UAE FA and expressed the UAE FA's delight to meet with the Fifa representatives to discuss the preparations for the Fifa Youth World Cup.

"Initially, we have agreed upon many points but Fifa will confirm every issue after their next meeting in March," Al Tayer told the conference.

"We have agreed that the draw for the championship will be held on December 9 this year and the competition will kick off from 25 March16 April, 2003 but the Fifa will confirm the dates and the timings of the matches after their meeting next month."

"We also agreed on the championship mascot and that will be displayed in a big festival in the coming few weeks. We have submitted the Fifa's proposals regarding the stadiums of the competition to the groups in each city of the championship and we are sure they will meet all these proposals before the delegation's next visit in December."

"We are glad to say that for the first time, Fifa have given a host country the chance to have their own sponsors. We will have two official sponsors and two co-sponsors," Al Tayer confirmed.

Bacchini said that they will submit a full report about their visit to the Fifa in their coming meeting in Zurich next month regarding the UAE's preparations for the event.

"I confirm that we found the UAE prepared and determined to achieve unprecedented success in hosting the Youth World Cup and I am sure that they will be ready even before the time of our next visit."