Football: Girls U-18 Schools’ Premier League |17 March 2022

High Commissioner Lynch presenting an Everton shirt to the captain of the Pointe Larue secondary school team

New girls’ league to promote inclusive participation across both genders

Following on from last year’s successful pilot delivery of the Seychelles Schools’ Premier League football project for boys aged 15 years old and under, the British High Commission in collaboration with the Seychelles Football Federation will now expand the upcoming season with a new league for girls U-18.

The new girls’ league was officially launched on Wednesday afternoon during a ceremony held at the Maison Football, Roche Caïman, in the presence of Minister for Employment and Social Affairs Patricia Francourt, British High Commissioner Patrick Lynch, the chief executive of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) George Bibi, team coaches and captains of the 10 selections who will feature in the league.

The ceremony which focused on the presentation of resources teams – genuine full kit replicas of 10 clubs from the English Premier League (EPL), footballs and training bibs – began with a tribute to 14-year-old Sean Barbé – a player for Anse Royale in last year’s pilot delivery of the Seychelles Schools’ Premier League – who tragically passed away in a road accident last month.

Project officer for the Seychelles Schools’ Football League from the British High Commission, Glenny Stravens, gave an overview of the pilot project, including the plans outlined for this year’s programme.

This include updates provided by the SFF’s director of women’s football Angeline Chua, as well as youth development officer Jim Louis, before kits and resources were presented to captains and coaches from the girls’ teams.

Similar to last year’s pilot delivery for the boys’ league, the girls’ league will be modelled on the world-renowned and hugely popular English football brand, the English Premier League (EPL).

The girls’ teams represented in this year’s inaugural girls’ league will mirror the composition of teams from the boys’ league and will include teams from the Anse Boileau secondary school (West Ham United), Anse Royale secondary school (Leicester), Beau Vallon secondary school (Chelsea), Belonie secondary school (Manchester City), English River secondary school (Aston Villa), Independent School ( Manchester United), Mont Fleuri secondary school (Tottenham Hotspur), Persévérance secondary school (Arsenal), Pointe Larue secondary school (Everton) and Plaisance secondary school (Liverpool).

The new league serves as an extension of the British high commission’s commitment towards the development of girls’ football in Seychelles, and follows on from last year’s donation of t-shirts, footballs, medals and trophies for players to the SFF.

The British high commission’s support of girls’ football in Seychelles builds on its ongoing involvement in coordinating the overwhelmingly popular Seychelles Schools’ Premier League for teenage boys, which has transformed youth and community engagement efforts across Mahé.

The next phase aims to focus on actively promoting inclusive participation across both genders as well as efforts to engage young people from both Praslin and La Digue over the course of this calendar year.

Addressing those present, High Commissioner Lynch noted that the United Kingdom and Seychelles’ relationship is defined by our shared history and our shared values, which are both reflected in our shared love of football.

“We also have a shared commitment to equality, so we are delighted to be working with the Seychelles Football Federation to launch this new league,” added High Commissioner Lynch who further said that it has always been a key part of the high commission’s plans to support the development of girls’ football in Seychelles, alongside the ongoing support we are offering to the hugely popular Seychelles Schools’ Premier League for teenage boys.

Encouraging the girls and bringing her support, Minister Francourt, who has had a long career dealing with teenagers, urged them to be role models to others, and to bring the good principles and discipline gained on the football pitch everywhere they go.

The girls’ league will be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays – starting from next week on March 22 and 23 – at Stad Popiler, Freedom Square and the Au Cap playing field.

The boys’ league which will run concurrently will continue to take place on Fridays – starting from next week on March 25 – at Stad Popiler, Freedom Square, Persévérance, Anse Royale and Pointe Larue.

Both leagues will take a mid-season break between the end of May and early June (leg 1) to the beginning of August (leg 2), ending in early November 2022.

Roland Duval