| Sports |
Low-key welcome for soccer chief
in Port Moresby
By WENDY KATUSELE
FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrived in the country yesterday
afternoon to a rather low key welcome reception at Port Moresby’s
Jackson International Airport.
Blatter and his four-member delegation, who travelled in a private jet,
touched down at 5:05pm after an eight-hour flight from Singapore.
Despite the low key reception, the world soccer body boss and his
partner stepped out the jet and were first welcomed by Papua New Guinean
children all dressed in various traditional attire before he was
formally met by Oceania Football Confederation delegation led by
president Reynald Temarii, his general secretary Tai Nicholas, Minister
responsible for Sports Dame Carol Kidu, PNG Football Association
president David Chung, PNGFA treasurer Kurt Reiman, PNG Sports
Foundation executive director John Kambuou and FIFA’s Asia and Oceania
development officer David Borja.
They were later met by a singsing group from Oro province, who led them
to another singsing group from Morobe province, and then escorted by
police to the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Blatter then paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare
at the Parliament house at 6pm and later attended a state function
hosted by Dame Carol also at Parliament.
Today’s programme for the FIFA boss will be hectic with the first being
a private meeting with his Oceania regional president Temarii at 7am at
the Crowne Plaza.
Blatter will later meet the local media at 11am for a press conference.
The FIFA president will then officially launch the OFC-funded synthetic
mini pitch at Kila Kila at 1pm and later visit the Koki Learning Centre.
There is a possibility he might visit Pari village before going to the
Port Moresby General Hospital’s HIV/AIDS ward before retiring to the
Crowne Plaza.
Blatter departs with his entourage tomorrow.
 
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