SUKETU Patel is the first Seychellois to serve on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and has said that his election to the African football governing body is a credit to Seychelles football.

Mr Patel was speaking to members of the local media Wednesday January 28  afternoon in his office at the Maison de La Rosière.

Former Seychelles goalkeeper Patel got himself elected as an executive committee member of Caf during last week's elections in Tunis, Tunisia. The Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) chairman got 34 of the 52 votes.

His closest rival, Thabo Makakole of Lesotho, got 13 votes, Evaristo Kasunga of Zambia three votes and Leo Mugabe of Zimbabwe two votes.

Patel, a special advisor to Caf's finance committee and a member of the African body's club competitions committee, also noted that getting to sit on Caf's executive committee has brought him great satisfaction.

"I believe that my election onto Caf's executive committee is an indirect reward for the hard work we've been doing in Seychelles football over the years. It is going to be difficult for someone to take on added responsibility at continental level if the work he has been doing in his country is not up to the level. This is also a good opportunity for me to continue doing what I've been doing here for 23 years, that is to change the lives of millions of people for the better," said Patel.

The 51-year-old, who is also a member of the organising committee of Fédération internationale de football association's (Fifa) world under-17 championships, has also said that his election to Caf's executive committee, will earn Seychelles more respect and recognition vis-à-vis bigger footballing nations.

He revealed that Seychelles, with a good audit report, a good reputation to utilise Fifa grants well and to complete the Goal Project on time, is to qualify for the second phase of the Goal Project in September. The US$400,000 project will see the construction of a technical centre adjacent to the Astro-turf pitches.

Mr Patel also explained that Fifa was happy with how Seychelles had been able to spend the assistance provided to all football bodies worldwide and has chosen the country as an example as to how to better utilise the grants.

He noted that Fifa was impressed with the local football body's youth development programme, the lighting of pitches to increase the number of training hours for teams and the fact that it has been able to save some of the money (almost US$250,000 in four years) for future projects.

Mr Patel also explained that he will be travelling to Tunis, Tunisia, again on February 13 for a meeting during which Caf president Issa Hayatou is to give all executive members their responsibilities.

"It won't be strange if I'm asked to chair the finance committee," said Patel, who added that because he cannot be separated from Seychelles football, his success as a Caf executive committee will depend on the responsibilities of all members of the SFF.

Patel also took the opportunity to talk about Caf's new programmes to develop African football.

"During the elections, the members showed their support for Hayatou for he is responsible for a lot of the new developments happening in African football. Their support has showed that he is the right man to guide African football for the next four years. Hayatou is ready to bring in young and energetic people and of the 12 members on the executive committee, five were elected into office during the recent elections," said Patel.

SFF boss Patel noted that Caf don't have a lot of money, but the organisation is ambitious.

It has built a new ultra-modern headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, and through the recommendations of a six-member committee which I sat on, suggestions as to how to improve the body were brought forward and those touched aspects like communications to make the organisation more pro-active, the designing of a more interesting website, developing football in all African countries and improving venues.

Tunisia, the hosts of the ongoing African Nations Cup, has set the standard with its very good facilities and top class football being played at the different venues.

G. G.