Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the AFC President, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, have today joined world leaders in extending their condolences to King Hamad bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) at the news of the passing of Sheikh Eisa bin Rashid Al Khalifa.
Sheikh Eisa was one of the visionaries who developed sport not just in Bahrain but across the entire Gulf and Arab world and he contributed hugely to the growth of football in Asia.
The AFC President said: “Sheikh Eisa was an icon of sport not only in Bahrain but across the Gulf and his development of football, and in particular, the introduction of the Arabian Gulf Cup, sparked the growth of the game in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries.
“He served sport as the President of the Bahrain Football Association and also the President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee. His influence in sport and beyond – particularly in diplomacy – cannot be underestimated.”
Sheikh Eisa was appointed as Minister for the General Organisation for Youth and Sports in 1988 and went on to serve both the Bahrain FA from 1974 to 1988 and Bahrain Olympic Committee as President. He was more recently Second Deputy of the Youth and Sports Council and an Honorary President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.