Mini-handball for primary schools - Baie Ste Anne, Grand Anse Praslin winners |18 October 2016

Baie St Anne primary and the Grand Anse Praslin primary schools are the girls’ and boys’ winners of the mini-handball tournament played on Saturday at the Palais des Sports.

In the all-Praslin boys’ final, Grand Anse beat their rivals from Baie St Anne 16-6, but on the other hand the Baie St Anne girls’ team defeated Anse Boileau primary 10-5.

Carlos Esther from the Grand Anse Praslin and Kimberly Chang Tak-Hue from Anse Boileau were voted the tournament’s best players.

Six boys’ teams – Cascade, Anse Boileau, Plaisance, Beau Vallon, Grand Anse Praslin, Baie St Anne – and five girls’ squads – Cascade, Anse Boileau, Beau Vallon, Grand Anse Praslin and Baie Ste Anne – took part in the tournament organised by the Seychelles Handball Federation (SHF).

Matches were played over two halves of seven minutes running time each on two mini courts. The teams played each other once on a league basis in groups and the top two finishers met in the cross knockout semifinals.

To reach the final in the girls’ category, Baie St Anne beat Beau Vallon 23-1 and Anse Boileau beat Cascade 15-2 in the semifinals.

The Baie St Anne primary girls looked well organised in their play as they intercepted and circulated the ball to quickly attack their opponents’ goal to lead 6-1 by half-time. Anse Boileau managed to pull up their socks in the second half as their play improved and they tied Baie Ste Anne at 4-4, but still lost 5-10.

Baie Ste Anne’s captain Kella Philoé thanked their two coaches for their success and said the competition was difficult but “we have tried our best and we have won”.

To make it to the all-Praslin boys’ final, Grand Anse Praslin beat Anse Boileau 23-13 and Baie St Anne eliminated Beau Vallon 8-3 in the two semifinals. 

Both Grand Anse and Baie Ste Anne started the final on an aggressive note and the score was tied 1-1 and 2-2 in the first three minutes before Grand Anse Praslin, who fielded taller players compared to the very small players from Baie St Anne, took control and went on to score four goals to lead 6-2 at the end of the first seven minutes of play.

As Grand Anse were playing tough defence in the second half, the Baie St Anne players were no match for their taller opponents who intercepted almost all of their passes and were quick on the counter-attack to score and lead 14-4 in the 11th minute.

Baie St Anne managed to intercept two passes which they turned into goals to reduce the score to 6-14 but they still went on to lose the game 6-16.

Grand Anse Praslin captain Amino Marie and teammates were overjoyed with the win. “The competition was easy. We beat all the teams.  We are happy,” he said.

Tournament organiser Tony Hortère said he was satisfied and could not have wished better with the number of teams who took part as other sports disciplines were also organising their own tournaments.

He said the referees were not too strict on the rules of the game, thus allowing the players to enjoy the game.

“I am very impressed with the level of play from the teams from Praslin. It shows that the physical education teachers are doing a good job with them. Praslin always has good schools’ sports teams, be it in volleyball, basketball, athletics and others and now handball. I am very impressed,” said coach Hortère.

He added that the federation is also looking into the possibility of organising a competition for secondary schools, but has to study the situation as exams are coming up.

The next mini-handball tournament for primary schools will be held next year.

P. J.