Football - Karl Hall back with St Michel |06 February 2015

St Michel have welcomed back lanky and stylish attacking midfielder Karl Hall for a second spell.

The Anse Aux Pins-based team posted news of Hall’s signing on their Facebook page accompanied by a photo of the player and coach Ralph ‘Tiapout’ Jean-Louis confirmed the news to Sports Nation yesterday.

“It’s true, Karl will play for St Michel this year,” said ‘Tiapout’.
The St Michel coach added that Hall attended all of the team’s training sessions this year while here on holiday and decided to ask for his international transfer to join St Michel and avoid a lot of travelling as he is part of the Seychelles national selection preparing for the Indian Ocean Island Games.

“Hall is a very good addition to the St Michel team. He has made a lot of progress in his play. His holding of the ball has improved tremendously and he will add weight to the left side of our offence. I welcome his presence in the team,” said coach ‘Tiapout’.

Unfortunately, Hall will not be able to play for St Michel in the African Champions League against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa as he signed for the club after the December 31, 2014 deadline set by the Confederation of Africa Football.

A member of the St Michel management Mike Delpeche told Sports Nation that they would have to pay a US $500 penalty for him to be allowed to play in the same competition but only if the Barclays league division one champions were to progress to the next round.

Speaking to Sports Nation, Hall said it is an honour for him to play once again for St Michel.
“I came to Seychelles for the christening of my godson and was approached by St Michel to play for them. It’s an honour for me to play once again for St Michel,” said Hall.

The player added that he is here for one season but if things go well he might extend his stay.

“My objective is to play high level football against good teams so that I continue to improve my game and win trophies with St Michel,” added Hall.

Born and raised in Leeds, England to a British father and Seychellois mother, Hall’s first club was Parkside Juniors which he joined at the age of 10.

He stayed with them until he was 14, when he signed for Albion Sports. He only left Albion at the age of 20 when he moved to Seychelles and signed for St Michel.

After two years (in 2010 and 2011) playing for St Michel and immediately re-signed for Albion Sports in 2012.

In 2011 he helped the Seychelles team win the elusive gold medal at the Indian Ocean Island Games on home ground.

Hall came on as a substitute in the semifinal against Reunion and with the score tied at 1-1 with two minutes left in the second half of extra-time  he rose to head the ball into the back of the Reunion team’s net to send Stad Linite into a chorus of cheers as the Seychelles team had reached the final.

It was his first goal for Seychelles, who went on to win the gold medal by beating Mauritius in a penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, St Michel have also recruited Malagasies Leonard Besabotsy and Aboudou Abdourahamany as well as Seychellois Trevor Poiret from St Louis Suns.

G. G.