Sports Awards 2015 - The male finalists |28 January 2016

With Andrique Allisop set to relinquish his trophy as he did not feature among the best in Seychelles’ sport in 2015, the big question on everybody’s lips is who will be named the 2015 Sportsman of the Year.

Featured among the 10 finalists, Steve Malcouzane, Georgie Cupidon, Allan Julie and Steven Baccus are all past winners of the prestigious award, but will have to do battle with six more athletes in order to be etched in history once more. Or will it be a new name who will take home the award this time?

We bring you the 10 male finalists for the Sportsman of the Year award.

Jude Sidonie (Athletics)

High jumper Jude Sidonie managed to win four of the six local competitions he competed in and on the international stage he won his only gold medal at the IOIG in Reunion by clearing the bar at 2.05m.

He also won three bronze medals in three different competitions – Kenya National Championships (2.05m) and Southern African Region Senior Championships in Mauritius (2.05m) and South Africa Open Championships (2.06m) – but was ranked fourth in the Botswana National Championship (2.10m).

Sidonie also took part in the long jump event at the Southern African Region Senior Championships in Mauritius and he placed fourth with a leap of 6.88m.

In local competitions, Sidonie won the long jump (6.72m) of the Coupe des Sauts and Open Season competition (6.80m), high jump event of the National Youth Championship (competed as invitee 2m) and the triple jump event of the Open Season competition (14.04m).

We were unable to reach Sidonie for his comments.

Georgie Cupidon (Badminton)

Crowned Sportsman of the Year twice, Georgie Cupidon is the best male player of the year 2015 after winning two bronze medals at the All-Africa Games in the mixed doubles alongside Juliette Ah-Wan and in the mixed team event along with Juliette Ah-Wan, Steve Malcouzane, Alisen Camille, Kervin Ghislain and Cynthia Course.

In addition, he won three bronze medals at the IOIG in Reunion.

Despite our efforts, we were unable to get in touch with Cupidon.

Steve Malcouzane (Badminton)

Steve Malcouzane is the runner-up to best badminton player of the year Georgie Cupidon and his performance include winning two bronze medals at the Indian Ocean Island Games and one bronze medal in the mixed team event at the All-Africa Games.

Locally, he won the men’s singles events of both the Curtain-raiser and Seychelles-India Day tournaments. He also collected four silver medals and they came in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles of the Curtain-raiser, men’s doubles of the Closing Cup and in the mixed doubles of the Seychelles-India Day tournament.

“Well, I am happy to be in the top 10 and I think I can probably finish in the top five,” said Malcouzane.

Keddy Agnes (Boxing)

The year 2015 was a very good one for hard-hitter Keddy Agnes.

He was able to retain his gold medal won in Seychelles in 2011 by defeating Emmanuel Payet of Reunion in the +91kg weight category final at the ninth Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Reunion.

Agnes was also part of the Seychelles team at the All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, clinching a silver medal in the +91kg weight category. He could not manage to win a first gold in boxing for Seychelles at these games as he lost his final bout to Nigerian Efe Ajagba on a 0-3 score.

He also made an appearance at the Strandja Memorial Tournament held in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Locally, Agnes was victorious in the Anse Etoile boxing tournament.

“Well, I’m really proud to be in the top 10 and I think I could be in the top five. If it’s judged according to the results I achieved in 2015, then I will win the big prize,” said Agnes.

Keven Kilindo (Boxing)

Named the second best boxer of the year 2015, Keven Kilindo was the winner of the Anse Etoile Boxing competition held locally.

On the international stage, Kilindo powered to a 3-0 victory against Reunionnais Florent Kaouchi in the 91kg weight category to win the gold at the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion. He later reached the last 16 at the African Championships and also took part in the All-Africa Games in Congo, Brazzaville.

“I am proud to be in the top 10 and I think that Keddy is the favourite. I think I can finish either third or fourth,” said Kilindo.

William Weidner (Golf)

Seychellois second round professional golfer William Weidner was the winner of the main category on the Order of Merit with 443 points accumulated during the 2015 season.

He won the pro section of the National Club Championship and finished with the best overall score and also managed to achieve the best overall scores in a number of competitions locally but could not receive the prizes due to his professional status.

Weidner, 30, also took part in three international competitions. With a two-round total of 159, Weidner guided the Seychelles team also made up of Damien Hoareau, Eddie Micock and Jerry Jean-Baptiste to victory in the Pro Am at the MCB Open played in Mauritius.

At the Mercedes Open in Reunion, he finished 20th out of 32 and at the Indian Ocean Island Games exhibition golf tournament, he was ranked third out of 28 players and took the bronze medal in the team event.

“Well, it all depends on the judges, but I am satisfied to be in the top 10. I hope I can be in top five as my results in 2015 were good,” said Weidner.

Rodney Govinden (Sailing)

Rodney Govinden managed some excellent performances both locally and internationally in 2015 to finally stake his claim as the best sailor in Seychelles.

In the Laser standard class of the African Championship of Sailing which took place in Algiers, Algeria, Govinden contested for second place with fellow Seychellois Allan Julie, a four-time Olympian, after Tunisian Youssef Akrout, who had already qualified for the Olympics dominated proceedings.

He was second out of 10 sailors to take the silver medal to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5-21, 2015.

Govinden also won two medals – a gold in team racing and a silver in Laser standard – at the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Reunion.

Locally he won the National Championship, finished second in the Cascade Slipway Trophy and fifth in the Hunt Deltel Open Cup.

“Well, I am very happy to be in top 10 as I performed well in 2015 and I think I might be in top five. I think that Keddy Agnes will be the winner though,” said Govinden.

Allan Julie (Sailing)

Veteran Sailor Allan Julie was named the second top sailor of the year 2015 behind Rodney Govinden despite also achieving some great results.

Locally, Julie finished as the winner of the Cascade Slipway trophy, the Hunt Deltel Open Cup and the Beau Vallon Regatta. He also finished in 11th place at the National Championship and 10th in the Morin Group Laser Open Cup.

At the IOIG, Julie won two gold medals – in the Laser Radial class and team racing. Julie also finished in third place at the African Championship of Sailing in Algiers, Algeria.

“I am happy as I worked hard all year and think I might finish fifth. I think it will be Keddy Agnes who will win,” said Julie who has won the Sportsman of the Year title a record six times.

Steven Baccus (Weightlifting)

Steven Baccus returned to the scene in 2015 to compete at the IOIG and a three-gold medal performance in the 94kg category in Reunion helped him earn the best male weightlifter title.

Former Sportsman of the Year Baccus also represented Seychelles at the All-Africa Games, where he finished in fourth place.

On the local scene, Baccus won the Open championship that was held at Bel Ombre in April.

“At my age it is quite good to be in the top 10 and I am happy, but I’m not the judge so I cannot say where I will finish. I think the winner will be Keddy Agnes,” said Baccus.

Jean-Marc Gardette (Windsurfing)

Jean-Marc Gardette has once again been named the top windsurfer after some great performances in 2015.

Gardette qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games after claiming a bronze medal at the African RSX Championship which also served as an Olympic qualifier.

He finished third behind two Algerians in the windsurfing category and because a country is allowed only one qualifying spot, he took the second one and will defend Seychelles’ colours in Rio de Janeiro next year. Thirteen windsurfers took part in the competition.

The 31-year-old came out second in the Blue Waters Charters windsurfing cup and third in the Sailfishing Charters cup.

“I don’t think I stand a chance of winning since I only competed in one international competition where I qualified for the Olympics, but I think Rodney Govinden will win it,” said Gardette.

Compiled by S. N.