International names were in Addis Ababa last week for a different purpose.First, FIFA President Gianni Infantino officially opened FIFA’s third African Regional Development Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last week Monday.
Same day the other African football giant Didier Drogba was in Addis to attend The Africa Business Health Forum 2019 that was held at the new Hyatt Regency hotel in the presence of Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed along with other heads of state and governments of the AU, UN high officials and private sector representatives.
The establishment of FIFA’s newest regional office is intended to improve interaction with African Member Associations (AMAs) and offer them support in developing strategies and accomplishing their development goals in close cooperation with FIFA’s administration in Zurich.
It is the 10th regional development office to be opened by FIFA since the creation of the FIFA Forward programme in 2016.
Attending the inauguration event were Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Tourism Dr. Hirut Kassaw, Commissioner of Sport ErstuYireda, representatives of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Union of North African Football Federations (UNAF), Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) President Isayas Jira, FIFA Member Associations and Development Director for Africa and the Caribbean Region Véron Mosengo-Omba and FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “I’m delighted to officially inaugurate FIFA’s third regional development office in Africa today. The Addis Ababa office will be a tremendous asset to our Member Associations in this region in devising strategies and realising their goals.”
The new FIFA regional development office will be staffed by a dedicated and experienced team of full-time development officers who will work alongside 16 MAs in the region. As part of FIFA’s Vision 2.0 and its ongoing commitment to grow and develop football around the world, the opening of a new regional development office in Addis Ababa will ensure a dedicated FIFA presence in North and East Africa, providing MAs in the region with hands-on support to apply for and deliver football development projects supported through the FIFA Forward programme.
A renowned footballer, entrepr eneur, and philanthropist the Ivory Coast striker, 40, had two spells at Chelsea, scoring 164 goals in 381 games and winning four Premier Leagues and the 2012 Champions League.
While he was in Addis Ababa, Drogba remarked with smile that he knows much about the Ethiopian strong football fans. “Yes, I know about the Ethiopian football fans. You have, really, highly determined football fans. We have seen them in South Africa and elsewhere in the world,” Drogba commented right after ‘The Africa Business Health Forum 2019’ came to an end.
Drogba was not able to witness the Premier League contest in Addis in his current trip.
Drogba won three Premier League titles in his first eight years at Chelsea, including in each of his first two seasons in England, as well as four FA Cups and two League Cups.
He also won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
He left on a high, scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final shootout against Bayern Munich.
Hosting high profile international figures is not the first time for Ethiopia. Last year, the Brazilian wonder boy Ronaldinho was in Addis and showed his football talent for people who were gathered at the Addis Ababa stadium.
This time Drogba didn’t get that opportunity. He simply attended ‘The Africa Business Health Forum 2019’ meeting at the newly opened hotel and returned home.
This was a good opportunity for Ethiopian football fans to watch Drogba at the Addis Ababa stadium as it was the time of Ronaldinho but it was not to be so.
The Ethiopian Herald February 19/2019
BY SOLOMON BEKELE
