DILI, 11 june 2022 (TATOLI) – Timorese President, José Ramos Horta, today, has received the FIFA World Cup trophy which is on a global tour ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup scheduled to be kicked off on november 21, 2022, in Qatar.
The trophy arrived at the Presidential Palace, in Dili, on saturday at 10 am local time with the help of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, Abrão Saldanha (SoEYS), and the president of Timor-Leste’s Football Federation (F-FFTL), and the current Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Social Communication (MAPCOMS), Francisco Martins da Costa Pereira Jerónimo.
The Head of State took over the trophy from Christian Karembeu, a 1998 FIFA World Cup Champion from France’s national team at the Palace of the President before heading to the Dili Municipality Stadium.
The most prominent football award and the Gold Cup, Christian Karembeu, said that the visit of the FIFA World Cup trophy to Timor-Leste was a great initiative from the authority of the FFTL to host the trophy to make everyone not only happy but to be also inspired.
“We just grow some seeds here in the ground of Timor-Leste and we hope that next time will have fruits and we will enjoy together in a better way,” Christian Karembeu, made the comments in a press conference held at the Palace of the President.
Karembeu said it’s a privilege for him to visit Timor-Leste: “I would like to thank Timor-Leste for the warm welcome here today. This is the first time and I hope that many more will come to enjoy and embrace the fact that as a sportsman I believe in peace and togetherness.”
“Of course, we know there is a will here to play football but Timor-Leste also needs to have facilities to make the future of Timor-Leste’s football better.”
President Horta in his welcome messages said that the visit of the trophy will help Timor-Leste promote the value and spirit of football within the communities throughout the country: “As a young country with a lot of development priorities, Timor-Leste still tries to ensure football is well developed in the country.
‘We are honored to be one of the 51 countries to be visited by the trophy this year and this will be once in a lifetime opportunity to have a show close to the trophy,” He said.
Horta said: “I am sure there will be great enthusiasm and excitement once the trophy is shown to thousands of Timorese football fans. But I can assure you that you will witness how peace-loving the people of Timor-Leste are.
“Along the way on its tops around the world, the trophy has inspired leverage long-lasting impact on thousands of football lovers. While I hope the trophy will bring about the same inspiration to thousands of Timorese who will have the opportunity to see the trophy today and I also look forward to a living and long-lasting impact on soccer in Timor-Leste,” Horta said.
President Horta hoped that the hospitality, enthusiasm, and energy of the Timorese people will stay forever in the hearts of the FIFA World Cup trophy team.
“As the president, on behalf of the people of Timor-Leste, I hope the visit of the trophy, accompanied by football legend Christian Karembeu and the whole delegation from both FIFA and Coca-Cola will have an enjoyable and pleasant visit to our country,” Horta said.
“Thank you! you are very much welcome to Timor-Leste, and my deep appreciation for you taking the time to be with us. Even though it’s just a few hours but these few hours mean many days and many years to come.”
The president of FFTL, and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Social Communication (MAPCOMS), Francisco Martins da Costa Pereira Jerónimo said the visit of the trophy will motivate Timor-Leste to put more efforts to accelerate the development of football in Timor-Leste.
“By looking at this trophy, it encourages us to work hard on the development of our football to make our dreams come true,” he said.
The trophy has been set to visit more than 50 countries, of which 24 will be presented for the first time, including Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
