Kuala Lumpur: Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and First Vice-President of FIFA, welcomed Nilton Telmo Gusmo dos Santos, President of the Football Federation of Timor-Leste (FFTL).
According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Salman congratulated dos Santos on his recent election as President of the FFTL for the remaining term from 2022 to 2026. He reaffirmed the AFC's commitment to supporting the Federation's efforts to rejuvenate football in East Timor. This includes plans to restart the domestic first division league, which has been inactive due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to enhance futsal, youth programmes, coaching, and other technical areas.
Shaikh Salman highlighted the dedication of dos Santos and the Federation to revitalize football at all levels. He assured the AFC's readiness to offer comprehensive support through various development funding programmes and initiatives specifically designed to meet the needs of national associations, helping East Timor to achieve its football development objectives.
Dos Santos expressed gratitude to the AFC President for his ongoing support and emphasized his dedication to working closely with the AFC to advance the game in East Timor.