FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura was on her maiden visit to Fiji last weekend.
Fiji Football Association president Rajesh Patel said it was a great honor to have the FIFA general secretary visiting Fiji.
“This is the first time FIFA general secretary has ever visited Fiji which gives them good insight to see how member associations are doing. And for us to say what our problems are, this way we can mutually agree to certain things as FIFA gives us the funding so we can agree to do the right things,” said Patel
Patel said FIFA’s funding has always been a crucial part of Fiji FA’s funding in development.
“We have utilised it in the correct way and we have to show to them that it is used in the right way too,”
“Fiji FA has been a benchmark in the other nations here in the region and we have never failed in FIFA audit and we have utilized the fund in the right and proper manner and whatever we have asked them for.”
Patel said Samoura was happy with the progress Fiji FA has made.
“She was happy with our development and she said that money that was given to Fiji FA was well spent, “said Patel.
Patel said discussed the difficulties of traveling between Island nations here and she said defiantly it is a challenge and they will look into it in the future, this burden can be absorbed by FIFA.
