Football-Fifa gives equipment to first division teams |04 March 2009

All eight teams playing in the first division received a boxful of equipment containing shin-guards, goalkeepers’ gloves, balls, cones, vests and boots, all certified by Fifa as standard professional equipment.

In a short meeting at the Maison Football, Roche Caϊman, the Fifa development officer for the African region, Cairo-based Dr Taha Ismael, handed over the gear to SFF chairman Suketu Patel. Also present were SFF officials including Ulric Mathiot and Jemmy Adela.

The other divisions are expected to receive similar donations next year if all goes according to plan.

Mr Patel thanked Dr Ismael on behalf of the SFF for the donation, as well for his and Fifa’s support for the first, second and third goal project-the Astroturf playing field at Roche Caiman, the technical centre at Roche Caiman, and the Stad Linite and Praslin sports complex.

Leslie Mathiot, representing his club, Foresters, as well as the other club members, said such gifts will greatly help them head in the right direction towards highest professionalism.

Dr Ismael was on a three-day visit to Seychelles, during which he inspected the playing field at the Amitie sports complex on Praslin. He left Seychelles early yesterday morning.

I.H