The Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA) has elected a new executive committee for the 2025-2029 term following its elective congress held on Saturday
By S. D
In what is the start of a new era for SOCGA, a new president has been elected for the first time since 1992. The association’s new executive committee was elected at the Olympic House, Roche Caiman, on Saturday.
Former Secretary General Alain Alcindor has been elected President, with Denis Rose as Vice President and Fatime Kante as Secretary General. Their mandate will align with the Olympic Games Calendar, ensuring Seychelles’ participation in major upcoming events such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, the 2027 Indian Ocean Island Games in Comoros, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Newly elected President Alcindor has been a key figure in Seychelles sports for over three decades. Last year, he was re-elected to the World Sailing Council and is currently an executive Seychelles Yachting Association (SYA) member.
Vice President Rose brings extensive experience in sports administration, having previously served as Principal Secretary for Sports. He is currently the Secretary General of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF).
Secretary General Fatime Kante is the Chairperson of the Seychelles Tennis Association (STA) and was elected as an executive member of the African Tennis Confederation in 2023.
Bernadette Contoret, who also serves as Treasurer for the Seychelles Chess Association, has been entrusted with the role of treasurer.
The newly elected Ordinary Members are Ravi Valmont, Jeffrey Lagrenade, Belinda Valmont, Sedrick Nicette, and Norbert Dogley. Ravi Valmont and Jeffrey Lagrenade have been re-elected after serving on the past committee, while Belinda Valmont and Sedrick Nicette are both newcomers. Norbert Dogley returns as an executive member, having previously served in the role.
One of the key moments of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) was the unanimous approval of outgoing President Antonio Gopal as an Honorary Member for Life in recognition of his dedicated service to Seychelles sports. Outgoing Vice President of SOGCA, Michel Bau, presented him with a token of appreciation.
A moment of silence was also observed in memory of Selby Dora, a former SOCGA executive member who passed away last year, and Chantal Hoffman, who was the Treasurer of the Seychelles Yachting Association and Canoeing Association, who passed away last month.
Beyond the elections, federation members were presented with SOCGA’s activities over the past year, including workshops, technical courses, and other key initiatives aimed at strengthening Seychelles’ sports development. Outgoing Treasurer Nathalie Hoareau also presented the financial accounts, and members were given the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification.
As part of the election process, all nominees were required to present themselves and outline their vision for SOCGA.
New President Alcindor, a former Seychelles College student who later pursued Civil Engineering at university in Prague, Czech Republic, has dedicated over 30 years to sports administration.
He first became a member of SOCGA in 1994 and then in 2025 was elected as the Secretary General. Since 1997, he has been at the head of the National Olympic Academy of Seychelles (NOAS), ensuring the delivery of all educational programmes aimed at school students, PE teachers, athletes and coaches.
His leadership will be crucial as the Olympic AI Agenda, launched by the International Olympic Committee in April 2024, aims to embrace the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in sports. Alain Alcindor, a key advocate for AI integration in sports, has emphasized that Seychelles will not be left behind in this global movement.
“We cannot afford to be left behind. We must ensure our local coaches understand that information and tools to enhance their coaching are now readily available, just as they are for their counterparts at higher-level performance centers around the world,” he said.
Additionally, Alcindor spoke about the dream of Team Seychelles winning an Olympic medal, highlighting that it is the ultimate goal for every Olympic Committee. He stressed the need to put mechanisms in place to ensure that this vision is achieved, underscoring the long-term commitment to developing world-class athletes in Seychelles.
With a blend of experienced leaders and fresh faces, SOCGA’s newly elected executive team is set to guide Seychelles sports through the next four years, fostering excellence and promoting Olympic values within the country.
