Football: Opening of Amitié stadium-A perfect example of solid partnership |07 April 2011
Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton said this when he addressed guests on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after Union of European Football Association president Michel Platini and himself unveiled the plaque to officially open the second phase of work done on the stadium at Amitié, on Praslin.
Principal secretary for youth and sports Denis Rose, 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 were among the guests at the event.
He added that the completion of the project will bring a new era of sports development on Praslin and that the new infrastructure will become the most popular sports venue on the island.
This, he said, should encourage more young people to take up football at both leisure and competitive level.
The minister said his government is pleased to be associated with this project – through making available land and direct financial contribution – and will seriously consider holding football matches at the new facility during the 8th Indian Ocean Island Games slated for August 5-14.
On behalf of President James Michel – the patron of Seychelles football – Mr Meriton congratulated the SFF for a job well done and also thanked Fifa for its continued involvement in the country’s football.
Addressing the guests, Mr Platini said it is always an honour for him to inaugurate a new football project that targets the sport’s development for future generations. These projects, he said, are strong signs for the continued development of football worldwide.
He said the project is a good example of partnership between the local football body, the Seychelles government and the private sector.
Mr Platini also congratulated SFF chairman Patel for his long and dedicated service to the development of Seychelles football. He vowed his continued support to the game here, especially in the setting up of development programmes.
After thanking all partners involved in the project, local football boss Patel reminded those present that Amitié – translated as friendship in English – is a very appropriate name and is also in line with one of the objectives of the SFF.
He urged all those who will converge at the stadium to compete in the spirit of friendship, thus promoting the name.
Mr Patel also asked all Praslinois to take good care of the stadium and its artificial pitch.
The ceremony ended with an exhibition match involving youth players from Praslin.
The second phase of work at the Amitié stadium consisted of installing the seating, dormitories, changing rooms, shops, toilets and showers.
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.
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.
R. D.