Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship |26 September 2022

Player-of-the-match Glenny Gamatis receiving his prize

Seychelles edge hosts South Africa 3-2 in first match

Seychelles got off to a very good start in the Hollywoodbets Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Beach Soccer Championship at Durban’s South Beach Arena yesterday by edging host country South Africa 3-2.

Glenny Gamatis was named player-of-the-match for his good overall performance to help the Seychelles team, coached by Edmond Robert, register a victory.

After South Africa had opened the scoring, Elvin Estico equalised for Seychelles before Gamatis gave the visiting Seychelles team the lead at 2-1. South Africa equalised once again at 2-2 before Hansel Coeur-de-Lion won the match for Seychelles with the team’s third goal.

It was a must-win match for Seychelles in group A as their next two matches are against two African giants ‒ defending champions Mozambique and 2015 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal. They play Mozambique today and will meet Senegal in their last group game on Wednesday September 28.

The onus is on the Seychelles to give a better performance this time after their disappointing showing at the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship in 2021 when they lost both group encounters against hosts South Africa (2-4) and Angola (6-8) to miss out on the semifinals.

In the plate final, the team again lost 4-5 to fellow islanders Comoros. Hansel Coeur de Lion top-scored for the side with five goals.

In yesterday’s other group A match, Senegal beat Mozambique 5-4 and Mandione Laye was named man-of-the-match. Senegal meet hosts South Africa today.

The winners and runners-up of group A will meet those of group B in a cross knockout in the semifinals. Group B is made up of Egypt, Mauritius, Tanzania and Uganda.

The championship is taking place in Durban from September 25 to October 1.

Gerard Govinden