Blatter opens memorial centre in Phuket

       Fifa president Sepp Blatter has opened the Tsunami Memorial Football Centre in this southern province.
       "I often speak about how football can be used as a tool for social change,or express solidarity and hope," the Fifa boss said yesterday.
       "I first visited this site three years ago and I am very, very proud to see what is now available for these children.
       "With a facility like this, we can help make the lives of these children a bit better and give them hope after what they've experienced, through the game of football."
       The president of the global football governing body was welcomed by Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Worawi Makudi, Phuket officials and more than 100 students from Ban Ao Nam Bo School where the centre is located.
       "When I walked past the children, I saw hope in their eyes," Mr Blatter said.
       Fifa donated 700,000 euros (35 million baht) for two football pitches and two buildings. The centre also has a clubhouse, an accommodation block, a multipurpose hall and training facilities.
       Construction of the Phuket centre began in 2006, two years after six southern provinces were hit by tidal waves in one of Thailand's worst natural disasters.
       The undersea earthquake on Dec 26,2004, off Sumatra killed nearly 230,000 people in 11 countries. Nearly 5,400 people were confirmed dead in Thailand.
       The Fifa chief said while nature had its destructive power it also had constructive power to help rebuild affected areas.
       Mr Worawi, who is also a Fifa executive member, said the centre would be for children from tsunami-hit provinces to play football and perform other activities,and act as a training centre for the national team.
       In the evening, Mr Blatter met Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to discuss a new grassroots football initiative. He will launch another project at the National Training Centre in Bangkok today.