April 13 2011 -- Fifa general secretary Jérôme Valcke called on President James Michel yesterday at State House.

Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton, Seychelles Football Federation chairman Suketu Patel and vice-chairman Roch Henriette were also there.

Speaking to the media after his visit, Mr Valcke said he discussed football and the power of football with President Michel.

"We discussed how we can develop football in Seychelles in the future now that there is a very good partnership between Fifa, the Seychelles government and the SFF," said Mr Valcke who is here on holiday. This is his first visit to Seychelles.

He added that "the voice of Seychelles is as important as the voice of USA, proving that Seychelles is not a small country within Fifa."

"Football is not only associated with business, it's a school of life. It helps bring education to kids. Fifa is doing a lot to develop football in Africa which is losing its talented players to clubs around the world. Last year's World Cup in South Africa was not a pay back to the continent, but a way of showing recognition of the work being done in this part of the world," he added.

 Mr Valcke, who took up the post of Fifa general secretary in 2007 and will continue in the post if Sepp Blatter is re-elected Fifa president in June, noted that Seychelles has benefitted from a number of Fifa Goal projects and under the 'Win In Africa, With Africa' programme.

"What is needed here is to develop a strong football structure to reduce public spending," added the Frenchman, who described his job as "exciting" and the "most beautiful" he has ever had in his life.

Mr Valcke leaves on Saturday and said he will return to "this beautiful country."

Before joining Fifa, Mr Valcke, who speaks French, English, German and Spanish, enjoyed a successful career with a number of companies. He joined French television channel Canal+ as a journalist in 1984 and was appointed assistant head of sport in 1991. In 1997 he switched to Sport+ in the role of chief executive - a position he occupied until 2002. He then spent a year as chief operating officer at Sportfive.