Football-Patel resigns as SFF chairman |05 January 2012

Mr Patel resignation took effect on Saturday December 31, 2011 and in his letter dated December 27, 2011, he wrote:

“This letter is to formalise my intent, made known to the SFF executive committee some weeks earlier, that I will be unable to continue as chairman of the federation effective 31st December 2011.

“My various responsibilities at international level no longer permit me to give the desired attention to Seychelles football and I feel it unfair that I should continue to occupy this position at the detriment of our football.”

Mr Patel said he will remain available to help the SFF whenever required and thanked the SFF executive committee, staff, all involved in the running of football here and all who have helped him in his long tenure of the office of SFF chairman.

Patel was serving the first of his second four-year term in office. He was re-elected unopposed last year and vowed to continue working for the benefit of the local football community.

A former Seychelles goalkeeper and winner of a silver medal at the first Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Reunion in 1979, Mr Patel was first elected SFF chairman in 1980 and served the sport until 1991. Between 1991 and 1994, he was the honorary chairman before deciding to come back for a second spell as chairman. He had been SFF chairman since 1994.

Last December, Mr Patel swept to his second term in office as president of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) after his only rival for the post Danny Jordaan withdrew his candidature.

He is also the number two in football management in Africa after being voted as Confederation of African Football (Caf) first vice-president last year. He also sits on the Fédération internationale de football association (Fifa) organising committee and Fifa Goal Bureau.

G. G.