Football-Minister Meriton and Platini open Goal Project four at Amitié stadium |06 April 2011

Present to watch the Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Meriton and Union of European Football Association president Platini and unveil the plaque during yesterday afternoon’s ceremony were youth and sports principal secretary Denis Rose, Fédération internationale de football association (Fifa) development officer for Africa Ashford Mamelodi, zone development officer Francesco Bruscoli, National Assembly members Marc Volcère and Ansley Constance, National Sports Council (NSC) chief executive Alain Volcère, Seychelles Football Federation chairman Suketu Patel and Vijay Patel of Vijay Construction.

The second phase of work consisted of installing the seating, dormitories, changing rooms, shops, toilets and showers at the stadium at Amitié, situated next to the old Youth Residential Training Centre.

This project falls under the Fifa Goal Project Four. Fifa donated R4.8 million and the Seychelles government R4 million in cash towards the project done by Vijay Construction – one of the main sponsors with a contribution of more than R3 million.

Work on the 1,800-seat stadium started in October last year and was done by Vijay Construction.
Minister Vincent Meriton confirmed that Praslin will host some matches during the 8th Indian Ocean Island Games slated for August 5-14.

He added that the project is a good example of partnership between a foreign partner – Fifa – the Seychelles government and the private sector – Vijay Construction.

The third phase will include laying synthetic tracks, which will include six lanes for races of a distance of 400m and more, and eight lanes for 100m races.

The project’s first phase – the construction of the pitch itself – was inaugurated by former Vice-President Joseph Belmont and Mr Platini himself on Saturday January 9 last year.