Football |31 May 2022

SFF boss Chetty with Fifa president Infantino (Photo: Julien Hekimian / Fifa)

President Chetty attends Caf meeting, discusses SFF’s shortcomings with Fifa boss

Seychelles Football Federation president Elvis Chetty took part in the Confederation of African Football executive committee meeting yesterday in Casablanca, Morocco, hours before the kick-off of the African Champions League finale between Egypt’s Al Ahly and Moroccan side, Wydad Casablanca.

Chaired by Confederation of African Football (Caf) president, Dr Patrice Motsepe, the meeting discussed a number of matters including the preparations of the up-coming TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations that will be played in Morocco from July 2-23, 2022.

Other competitions discussed include the TotalEnergies Caf Super Cup 2022, the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in 2023, and the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Guinea in 2025.

Also featured on the agenda were the prize-money scale, Caf awards, update on the ordinary general assembly of August 10, 2022; and the African Super League.

Mr Chetty was elected to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) executive committee as an ordinary member in March 2021.

Meanwhile, SFF boss Chetty had a meeting with Fédération internationale de Football Association (Fifa) president Gianni Infantino last Friday in the French capital, Paris.

After he was shown Fifa’s new offices and introduced to new staff, Mr Chetty discussed the shortcomings and need of SFF with Fifa president Infantino.

Speaking to Sports NATION, Mr Chetty described his meeting with Fifa president Infantino as fruitful. “We discussed about expediting funds for the laying of the new artificial ground at Stad Linite field as an agreement with the Seychelles government has already been signed; and the need for further financing in football development specifically youth development and women’s football,” said Mr Chetty.

He added: "Fifa is the cornerstone of the development of the Seychelles Football Association. We are a small organisation from a small country, but we are an incredibly proud nation, and we love our football. We are relying on the support of the Fifa Forward Programme, which is essential for our development, especially of our youth players and women’s football."

Meanwhile, in last night’s Caf Champions League final, Al Ahly were to meet Wydad Casablanca at Stade Mohamed V in Morocco.

Al Ahly were looking to become the first team to win three successive Champions League titles and secure a record-extending 11th continental crown, but they faced a tough obstacle in Wydad.

The Moroccan side have two Caf Champ[ions League titles to their name and have been one of the most consistent performers in this competition in recent seasons, reaching the semifinals or better in six of the last seven editions of the competition.

They also had home advantage for this one-off final, with Casablanca the only city which submitted a complete bid to the Confederation of African Football to host the match – much to the anger and frustration of Al Ahly.

Nonetheless, Al Ahly’s South African coach Pitso Mosimane backed his team to shrug off the venue controversy, mounting injuries and a packed schedule to claim Caf Champions League glory.

Gerard Govinden