Football: Madewis Cup 2025 |27 May 2025
Rovers FC U-13 Elite Programme embarks on prestigious French tour
Rovers FC have proudly announced that the U-13 Elite Programme squad will depart for France on June 1 for a three-week expedition to compete in the renowned Madewis Cup (June 5–8), featuring Juventus FC, Paris FC and a Junior Premier League Selection.
This follows successful French tours in 2023 and 2024 against AC Milan, Dallas FC, Benfica and Olympique de Marseille, solidifying Rovers’ presence on the international stage.
Rovers’ Elite Programme has nurtured these players since age 8 through four weekly training sessions and competitive fixtures.
This four-year investment in technical mastery, physical conditioning and tactical acumen – supported by data-driven performance analysis and international exposure – produced an undefeated national league season in 2024/25.
Rovers outscored opponents by over 200 goals and secured 17 national selections due to outstanding technical and physical results in the SFF selection tests, matching elite-level European standards for their age group.
The summer expedition promises exceptional prestige: group-stage clashes in the Madewis Cup against top-tier youth squads, followed by high-profile friendlies with academies such as Olympique Lyonnais and other distinguished clubs across southern France. These encounters will challenge Rovers’ players, accelerate their development and further cement Rovers FC’s reputation as the premier leader in youth player development.
Following the French expedition (June 1–21), the 17 selected players will remain in France for a five-week U-13 national selection camp under the SFF’s Technical Director as part of Fifa’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS).
The remainder of the U-13 squad will return to Seychelles to resume domestic training and competitions.
Rovers U-13 Elite Programme head coach Rupert Pool said, from day one, Rovers implemented a schedule of four weekly training sessions focusing on advanced ball mastery, tactical systems and small-sided simulations, adding that strength and conditioning was integrated each week to develop athletic resilience.
“We used data analytics to benchmark against elite-level European metrics, ensuring transparent, measurable targets. Crucially, since the age of 9–10, our players have competed in the U-13 domestic league against older opponents, accelerating both their technical adaptability and mental toughness,” he noted.
Regarding the team’s unbeaten in domestic league matches this season, often scoring over 20 goals per match, coach Pool said the focus has always been to develop professional-ready players for the international stage.
“Each year we conduct European expeditions—competing in tournaments and training with elite academies—to gauge our progress beyond Seychelles. These annual trips and our domestic record together ensure we continuously refine our methods and confirm our players meet and exceed professional standards,” he said.
Building on Rovers’ successful European expeditions in 2023 and 2024 – against AC Milan, Dallas FC, Benfica and Olympique de Marseille – coach Pool explained that each tour has progressively increased in scope, duration and competitiveness, noting that in 2023, they spent one week in France, and in 2024 two weeks, while this year’s three-week expedition offers even more sustained high-intensity matches. “Competing in the Madewis Cup against Juventus CF, Paris FC and the Junior Premier League Selection provides daily exposure to elite football environments. This gradual extension of time abroad deepens our players’ tactical insight and technical resilience, reinforcing lessons from past trips and pushing them toward professional standards,” he said.
In regards to how long the programme is designed for and what happens after U-13, coach Pool explained that Elite Programme guides players from age eight all the way through to 17 or 18, aiming to prepare them for professional careers, ideally overseas, adding that they have already begun nurturing a new generation of U-10 athletes under the same framework, and are currently in scouting and trial phases.
“Parents with talented children interested in joining should reach out, as this is a unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of our current cohort,” added coach Pool.
When asked about how he manages the demands of leading such a comprehensive programme on his own, and how does he cope with responsibilities and maintain quality across all areas, coach Pool explained that the head coach role is complemented by Rovers’ academy director overseeing player pathways, a full-time goalkeeper coach specialising in goalkeeper training, and an assistant coach managing technical drills.
“We host UEFA-qualified visiting coaches throughout the year, and behind the scenes a team of technical analysts and managers handles logistics and performance data integration. This structure mirrors professional academies abroad, surpassing any local setup while staying grounded in continuous learning and best practices,” he explained.
Regarding his personal development as a trainer, coach Pool explained that he pursued Caf coaching licences and took part in continual professional development courses to enhance his methods and leadership.
“I recognise that our local coaching standards must advance alongside player growth. Our European tours are not just for players, as they also give coaches firsthand insight into elite training frameworks. This process keeps us humble and motivated to bring back best practices, ensuring Seychelles coaching evolves,” coach Pool explained.
Regarding critics that Rovers’ friendship with the SFF influenced the selection of 17 players in the U-13 national selections, coach Pool explained that the selections were purely merit-based, noting that the players achieved outstanding technical and physical scores during the SFF’s trials, with benchmarks identical for every candidate.
“These players have been on the radar for some time, with their growth and consistency evident well before this season’s achievements. Matching elite-level European standards, they earned their spots through performance, not politics. Hard work pays off,” he added.
With 17 players staying on for a five-week national selection camp under Fifa’s TDS in France, coach Pool said the camp complements the club’s framework by reinforcing advanced tactical drills and performance profiling within the Fifa TDS structure.
He explained that Rovers’ methodologies and the SFF’s curriculum align perfectly, ensuring seamless continuity as these players’ transition from club to national duties.
Looking ahead on how does he see the summer’s expedition and the broader Rovers Elite Programme shaping the future of Seychelles’ football, coach Pool said those players will set a new standard of professionalism domestically.
“Their development through Rovers’ Elite Programme – combining four weekly training sessions, competitive domestic fixtures and progressive European expeditions – has forged athletes who serve as ambassadors for Rovers FC and Seychelles’ football, inspiring younger cohorts and elevating standards across the nation. On that note, I would also like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us through every step of this journey,” he concluded.
Text and photos: Contributed