Football: Goal Project II-Minister Pool lays foundation stone for SFF's new headquarters |10 August 2005

Local Government, Sports and Culture Minister Sylvette Pool had the honour of laying the stone for the construction of the Seychelles Football Federation's (SFF) headquarters in the presence of Sports  and Culture principal secretary Patrick Nanty, National Sports Council managing director Eric Arnephy, SFF chairman Suketu Patel, Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) president Antonio Gopal, members of SFF's executive committee, teams' representatives, officials of the sports department and invited guests.

In her speech, Minister Pool said that she felt proud to lay the foundation stone and thanked the SFF for its active role in the development of football here.

"I think that the good spirit that exists between Fifa, the SFF and the Seychelles government should be an example for other sports to follow. I thank Fifa for including Seychelles in its development programme and this shows that it (Fifa) is confident in what the SFF is capable of doing," said Minister Pool.

Adding that the laying of the foundation stone for the project is "another step in the development of football in Seychelles," Minister Pool noted that she was proud development aimed at Seychellois youths was going on on the reclaimed land.
The Seychelles government supports such initiative, she added.

SFF chairman Patel also spoke about the good collaboration between the SFF, Fifa and the Seychelles government who have all made significant contributions in the project which  will cost R6.6 million.

Fifa will make a 33% contribution, the SFF 30% from the money it saved from Fifa allocations between 1999 and 2002 and the Seychelles government 37%.
Mr Patel added that the purpose of the facility will allow the SFF to further develop its different programmes.

Before dedicating the project to those who have helped to bring Seychelles football to where it is today, Mr Patel thanked the Seychelles government, especially President James Michel who is the patron of football here, and members of the SFF executive committee for believing in him.

It is to note that Goal Project I consisted of the construction of a full-size and two futsal size floodlit astro-turf pitches at Roche Caïman were handed over to the SFF in 2003.

Sports Nation  will bring you more details tomorrow about the second project which is  going up next to the astro-turf pitches.

F. M.