Basketball: Local star takes time out to inspire youth |08 August 2013

Seychelles’  first professional basketballer, Abdel Sylla, made time during his deserved holiday home to hold a small talk with a few aspiring young athletes from the Mont Fleuri secondary school.
Based in France, Sylla followed his secondary education at Mont Fleuri and therefore found it ideal to inspire the youths from his former school.

The 23-year-old advised those present inside the school’s library to “take their studies seriously as injuries in sports are common and could end anyone’s career at any time. Therefore, education is key as you will be able to pursue another career opportunity should you fail in sports.”

The student were also given the chance to ask questions to the Seychelles international player and responding to those he said that though he is a big fan of United States’ National Basketball Association (NBA) star LeBron James, his big brother Amadou – who plays for Premium Cobras – remains his favourite player.  

He added that his aim is to continue to progress in his career and may be one day join the world renowned NBA and go to Reunion in 2015 and defend the gold medal won by the Seychelles team at the last Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) here in 2011.

Sylla started playing basketball locally with Premium Cobras before moving to Baya in order to get more playing time. In 2007, at the age of 17, played at the IOIG in Madagascar before flying to France for a three-week trial and excelled to then be offered a chance to play for Nancy in the French Pro A league.

This season, however, Sylla will be playing for newly promoted Pau-Orthez who are one of the most successful French basketball teams, having won the French league title nine times.
He reserved special thanks for his family, coaches and friends as well as American coach Sterling Wright whom he said had a big impact on his career.

To close the session, Sylla told the students to listen to their teachers’ advice since even if they may not like it the teachers are looking out for a better future for them.

S. N.