SEOUL, 29 May — Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal, deputy chief of the Youth Welfare Presidency and head of the Kingdom’s delegation to the World Cup finals, yesterday held talks with FIFA President Joseph Blatter on strengthening cooperation between the Saudi Football Federation and the international organization.
Speaking to reporters, Prince Nawaf expressed his happiness over meeting the FIFA president. “We discussed matters related to strengthening cooperation between FIFA and the Saudi Football Federation and ways of promoting Arab and Asian football,” he said.
Prince Nawaf also met with Joao Havelange, the honorary president of the international football federation, at his residence in Seoul and commended Havelange’s support for making the continental football tournament for the King Fahd Cup an official event under the FIFA.
Saudi Arabia is taking part in the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time. Their first appearance was in the United States in 1994 when thequalified for the second round. In the following international soccer event held in France in 1998, the Saudis did not perform well and had to be satisfied with playing in the first round game. Saudi Arabia will meet Germany in their opening game on June 1 in Supporo, Japan.
Their second encounter will be with Cameroon on June 6 and the third with Ireland on June 11. Prince Nawaf, who attended the team’s training sessions at Tokyo Stadium in Chofu, has expressed his confidence in the Saudi squad’s ability and skills.
