Madagascar: FOOTBALL – FMF-FIFA – Swiss player Gelson Fernandes arrives on a mission

One of the two FIFA officials on a mission to Madagascar starting this Thursday is former Swiss national team member Gelson Fernandes.

An international star in our midst. Two FIFA officials, regional director of FIFA’s Member Associations division for Africa, Gelson Fernandes, and Malagasy Sanda Rasoamahenina, coordinator of projects in Southeast Africa, will attend events organized by the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF) from Thursday to Saturday in the capital. At 37 years old, Gelson Fernandes, whose real name is Gelson da Conceiçâo Tavares Fernandes, of Cape Verdean origin, was appointed regional director of FIFA’s Member Associations division for Africa on August 1, 2022.

He is responsible for overseeing services to strengthen the development of African member associations through FIFA’s Forward Program. “When you are African, you should accept a proposal like the one made to me because it is the best way to give back to Africa what it has given me. In truth, I feel obligated to work for Africa and its football,” said Gelson Fernandes when he took up his position. He works in collaboration with member associations.

European star

The goal of his mission is to improve the current situation, involving everyone because the African continent has potential. “Football can change the lives of a large number of people. Its power is immense. I intend to dedicate all my energy to it. It is a major challenge that I take on with a lot of pride,” he said.

The former attacking midfielder for the Swiss national team has played for several major European clubs, including Swiss club FC Sion where he is currently vice president, Manchester City in England, AS Saint-Etienne (France), Chievo Verona (Italy), Leicester City (England), Udinese Calcio (Italy), Sporting Club Portugal (Portugal), SC Freiburg (Germany), Stade Rennais (France) and Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany). He has scored a total of fifteen goals in 523 club matches. He has sixty-seven caps for the national team. He scored two goals, including the one that gave Switzerland a 1-0 victory over Spain, the winner of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

He announced his retirement in May 2020 after a seventeen-year professional career. He is the cousin of great players like Swiss internationals Edmilson Fernandes and Cabral and Portuguese players Manuel Fernandes and Elton Monteiro. A national conference on football development will be held this Thursday at the Barea Stadium in Mahamasina. Tomorrow will see the laying of the foundation stone for the rehabilitation project of the National Technical Center in Carion. And the General Assembly of the Federation is scheduled for Saturday at the Barea Stadium.

Serge Rasanda