February 13, 2004

The world football governing body, Fifa have decided to help Singapore achieve Goal 2010 by inducting the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) into their Goal development programme, which means the FAS will receive US$400,000 annually until 2006.

Initiated by Fifa president Sepp Blatter in 1999, the program help fund developmental projects for financially disadvantaged nations in achieving football excellence.

FAS had submitted an application for youth development funding, which Fifa have approved in principle.

The approval means the FAS will receive annual grants from Fifa to fund their development programmes until 2006.

Apart from the money, Fifa will also be sending personal to help out FAS if needed & there will be checks to ensure the money is spend wisely.

FAS general-secretary John Koh was pleased with the approval as he felt modern football has become a big business & to challenge the best in the world, FAS needed big money to shape up in order to progress.

He stated that FAS intend to fully utilise the money from Fifa to boost the National Football Academy (NFA) project which was started in 1999.

This will be the nucleus of FAS focus for youth development