Football |26 June 2023

Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura in the company of SFF president Elvis Chetty (Photo: Contributed)

Outgoing Fifa secretary general visits Seychelles

Outgoing Fédération Internationale de Football Association secretary general Fatma Samoura is on a three-day visit to Seychelles.

She arrived yesterday morning and was welcomed by the president of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) Elvis Chetty.

During her stay she will pay a courtesy call on the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Affairs, Marie-Celine Zialor, this morning at the Family House, Bel Eau and visit the SFF headquarters tomorrow where she will meet and greet the staff.

Tomorrow, depending on her schedule, she is also expected to watch the semifinals of the Tri-Nations National Day Beach Soccer Tournament currently taking place at the Beach Soccer Arena at Roche Caïman.

Teams from Burundi, Madagascar and Seychelles are taking part in this first ever National Day Beach Soccer Tournament and the semifinalists were expected to be known last night. Today is a rest day with the semifinals taking place tomorrow. The third-place playoff and final will be held on Wednesday.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) secretary general will leave Seychelles tomorrow evening.

Senegal-born Samoura became Fifa's first female and non-European secretary general seven years ago and under her leadership women’s football has gained new impetus.

According to Fifa, she played a pivotal role in transforming the organisation, restoring its credibility and breaking down barriers.

Announcing her retirement earlier this month she said joining Fifa was the best decision she had made in her life.

“I am very proud to have led such a diverse team,” she was reported as saying.

She thanked Fifa president Gianni Infantino for giving her what she described as a dream job and for his trust, understanding and incredible level of support.

She said it had been a pleasure for her to work alongside someone who had transformed Fifa.

“Fifa today is a better governed, more open, more reliable and more transparent organisation. I will leave Fifa with a high sense of pride and fulfilment,” she said.

Giving the reasons for her departure from Fifa, she said she wanted to spend more time with her family.

She leaves her post in December this year.

Contributed