Football: Press conference-SFF to launch Seychelles football academy soon |24 March 2005

The academy will train players aged between nine and 13 years old. Recruitment of players will take place on Saturday March 26 at Stad Linite, starting from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

The local federation is looking to recruit between 30-40 players from schools across the country. Once selected to form part of the academy, the players will be provided with all necessary training equipment.

Players of the U13 and U15 pre-selections will follow rigorous training sessions twice weekly, while those of the U18 group will train once a week because they form part of youth teams who are already involved in competitions organised by the SFF.

As of now, the SFF will cease to organise U9, U11 and U13 competitions between schools. It will only run a league championship for U15 teams.

Players falling in the U9, U11 and U13 age groups who are members of the academy can still play competitive football organised by schools.

"We are hoping to get started with the U15 league in April. Schools on Mahe, Praslin  and La Digue as well as individuals or organisations who are interested in participating are asked to come in person at the federation's office for registration and for any other enquiries. The league will be contested over a year. A committee will be set up next week to work on the rules and regulations of the tournament," Congolese Raoul Shungu, the SFF's technical advisor, told members of the local media on Wednesday afternoon.

"We are trying to inculcate in the young players some good practises. They represent the future of Seychelles football so they must be taught wisely. The young players will also be groomed to make up for the lapses in Seychelles football. We are optimistic for the future," noted Shungu, who added that training will be mostly conducted at the Astro-turf pitches at Roche Caïman.

He said that the initiative for the country to have permanent youth selections has been taken on the request of the Fédération internationale de football association  (Fifa).

"Fifa wants to continuously promote football among the youths. The game has already been embraced at junior and senior levels here and the SFF wants to do the same with the youngsters. Young girls who want to join the Seychelles football academy are most welcome but they must meet the criteria set by the SFF," said Shungu.

Coaches Patrick Cafrine, Marc Mathiot and Danny Laurette will work with the young players, while technical advisor Shungu will oversee everything.
Former footballer Damien Jean, who is now employed by the SFF, is also closely linked with the academy programme.

C. J.