Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
THE Bahrain Football Association (BFA) and the soccer community were this week mourning the death of Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa.
The Royal Court announced that he had died in a marine accident in Oman, where he was on an Eid holiday.
Shaikh Salman, 45, was a former BFA president for five years and was the eighth president of the association.
He was elected BFA president in December 1997 after a decision from the former General Organisation for Youth and Sports president Shaikh Isa bin Rashid Al Khalifa.
Shaikh Isa is the present Bahrain Olympic Committee president and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports vice-president.
In December 1998, Shaikh Salman was re-elected by the general assembly after his major contributions to the development of soccer in the kingdom.
He succeeded in maintaining the trust of the BFA general assembly which had chosen him for a third successive presidency between 2000 and 2004.
But due to personal reasons, Shaikh Salman stepped down in 2002. His position was taken over by current president Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.
In appreciation of his efforts during his tenure, the BFA’s general assembly offered him the honorary presidency.
Shaikh Salman worked at the Foreign Ministry. He was also a former Bahrain Volleyball Association president and an honorary member of Riffa Club.
Meanwhile, Northern Municipal Council Chairman Yousif Al Buri expressed sadness and said: “Shaikh Salman’s loss is a loss to everyone, particularly in sport. His contribution to sport will be missed. To be honest, I have lost a true friend who’ll never be replaced.”
Shaikh Salman leaves behind wife Shaikha Munira bint Isa Al Khalifa, His Majesty King Hamad’s sister, five sons and a daughter.
