Blatter inaugurates two Goal projects in Morocco
© AFP
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter opened two artificial pitches at Morocco's National Football Centre in Mâamora, near Salé on Sunday 29 April 2012. Accompanied by FIFA vice-president and CAF President Issa Hayatou and the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Ali Fassi Fihri, Blatter inaugurated the pitches near the Moroccan capital Rabat as part of the Goal Project.
"I'd like to congratulate the Royal Moroccan Football Federation for the remarkable work that has been done here. These wonderful facilities will accelerate football's development and benefit the  children of the future," said the FIFA President.
"I am delighted that the Federation organised a women's match on inauguration day," Blatter said before providing further proof of his pleasure by giving the match a ceremonial kick-off.
Following the inauguration, the FIFA delegation visited the Mohammed VI Football Academy, a top-notch training centre for youths aged 13 to 18, many of whom have been selected for the national side at underage levels.
I'd like to congratulate the Royal Moroccan Football Federation for the remarkable work that has been done here.
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter
On Monday 30 April, President Blatter will meet with the Minister for Youth and Sport, Mohamed Ouzzine, before holding discussions with representatives from the FRMF at Federation headquarters. A meeting with International Olympic Committee member Nawal El Moutawakel is also planned, before the FIFA President brings his Moroccan trip to an end with a press conference.
FIFA held its first-ever Congress on African soil in Marrakesh back in 2005, and the FIFA Club World Cup will be staged in Morocco in 2013 and 2014. Morocco have also qualified for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012, where they will take on Spain, Honduras and Japan in the group stage.
The FIFA delegation will then head on to Algiers for a two-day tour that will include the opening of the new Algerian Football Federation headquarters, also built with support from the Goal Project.