ArmInfo. Accompanied by the President of the Armenian Football Federation (AFF) Artur Vanetsyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Football Academy of Armenia in Avan District of Yerevan, the press service of the Armenian Prime Minister informs.
The Premier toured the premises, inspecting the amenities available and the existing infrastructures. The AFF leadership presented to Nikol Pashinyan the ongoing programs and the future plans for developing football in our country.
The Head of Government met with the coaches and players of Armenia's national team who were getting ready for the Armenia-Finland match to be held on March 26 at the Republic Stadium in Yerevan as part of the qualifying round of Euro 2020.
Armenian national team captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan presented Nikol Pashinyan with a T-shirt and a ball with the national team players' signatures.
Addressing those present, Nikol Pashinyan noted: "Dear coaches, players, and representatives of the Armenian national team, I am happy to meet with you in such a format, and I do not think we need to say how important football is for us, how many opportunities can be created through football.
We were just discussing the prospects for developing football in Armenia. The core of our discussion was that the content of public life and relationships can be changed through football. It can change people's health status and self-esteem as a citizen, as a community. Of course, football can also change the social moods and the atmosphere in the country.
To be honest, this is what makes me believe that sports, in general, and football, as the most popular sport, are important to public life. Of course, the Armenian national team has a special significance in this regard. The national team has offered us many joyful moments of excitement during its history. I have watched the national team's games many times before both at the stadium and in family, and it has always been a great pleasure.