BANGKOK (10 April 2011) – The following is the full text of His Royal Highness Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah’s Inauguration Speech at the first AFF Council Meeting for the Session 2011/2015.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for believing in me to lead the Asean Football Federation. Going forward, and in appreciation of your confidence, I hope to lead the management team to further enhance the solidarity and level of Asean football.
It is indeed fitting for all of us to render our appreciation to Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Ismail who has served as President of the AFF for five terms since 1996. AFF has escalated and entrenched itself well, inter-alia, a proud Suzuki Cup as its marquee event.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In this regard, we accord similar appreciation to the previous office bearers, namely the vice-presidents, Pengiran Matusin Matasan from Brunei, H.E. Ravy Khek from Cambodia, Juan Miguel Romualdez from Philippines and Duong Vu Lam from Vietnam.
Let us now congratulate the newly elected and re-elected vice-presidents, Francisco Kalbuadi from Timor Leste, Brig Gen Khiev Sameth from Cambodia, Viphet Sihachakr from Laos and Vu Lam.
I urge all members of the AFF fraternity to maintain and enhance the strong sustainable solidarity that has been well established. Only with such a strong foundation, can we further enhance the capacity, quality and capability of football in our region of One Asean and one goal.
I am confident, football is a game that transcends race, creed, religion and generations, can be the strongest catalyst of international harmony and tolerance. In this context I pledge to lead all of us to work closely with the FIFA leadership so that we can share the global capability, technical and financial facilities for the betterment of Asean football resources.
It must be our dream that one day soon ASEAN may be chosen as the host for the World Cup as we succeeded once to bring the World Cup to Asia during my AFC Presidency.
I look forward to working together as a team towards One ASEAN, One
Goal – ASEAN Football. Thank you.
