Football Women footballers gear up for IOIG |17 November 2022
The Seychelles women footballers are stepping up their preparation as they attempt to make a good impression at the Indian Ocean Islands Games in Madagascar next year.
They leave for Reunion this morning on a 10-day training camp during which they will play four test matches against the island’s selection and top league teams.
This follows their participation in a triangular tournament in Mauritius in June this year when they finished co-champions alongside the host country. Rodrigues were the other team taking part in the tournament.
“As we will be participating in the Indian Ocean Islands Games next year, we want to have a better idea of the kind of competition to expect so that we can prepare ourselves the best we can,” said Angeline Chua, head coach of the Seychelles women’s national team.
Coach Chua, who also works as the director of women’s football with the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) has, for the past two years or so, been making important contributions to revamp women’s football in the country and getting more girls to play football.
As the country’s national team coach, one of her greatest achievements to date has been to help propel the country into the Fifa women’s world ranking for the first time, it is history after over 30 years of trying.
Seychelles is currently ranked 165th on the Fifa women’s world ranking ahead of Comoros 182nd, Madagascar 183rd and Mauritius 187th. Reunion does not appear on the Fifa world ranking as it is a French department.
Being a French department, the island has numerous interactions and exchanges with the Métropole and its selection is usually of high calibre.
“We expect them to be among the best in the region and our trial matches against them, after Mauritius, fit very well into our preparation schedule,” explained coach Chua.
The delegation leaving for Reunion will consist of 20 players and seven officials. This exchange is one of the results of the cooperation that exists between the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) and the Ligue Réunionnaise de Football (LRF).
The Seychelles side will pay for the airfares only while all the expenses in Reunion, including transportation, board and lodging will be taken care of by the LRF and clubs Entente Ravine Creuse and Association Féminine de Football de l’Est (AFFE).
From November 17 to 24 the team will be staying at the Plaine des Palmistes and from November 24 to 27 at the ZELINDOR centre at Sainte Suzanne.
The first of their four test matches will be against AFFE of Saint Benoit on November 19 and their second against Saint Pauloise on November 22.
The highlight of the tour will be their clash against the Reunion selection on September 23 at 6pm at the Stade Raphael. Their fourth match will be against Saint Denis FC on November 26 before flying back to Seychelles the following day.
Coach Chua admitted that it would be a tough 10 days with a match almost every other day but added that this type of test was important to see how the players coped in such an environment.
“In a tournament such as the IOIG, we expect to play several matches over a short period of time and we have to get used to it,” she said.
Players
Goalkeepers: Elvina Marie, Dinara Julie and Kurchia Poris.
Strikers: Lisa Dubois, Reena Esther, Natacha Bibi, Keisha Moustache.
Midfielders: Guyra Boniface, Pascalina Moustache, Nerlice Fred, Berina Ladouce, Kimberly Change-Tak Hue, and Vesna Cesar.
Defenders: Clara Libanotis, Rachel Cadeau, Alisha Matatiken, Samira Florentine, Rannia Chetty, Junna Philo and Esca Luliabelle.
Management: Dolor Ernesta (head of delegation), Peggy Freminot (team manager), Angeline Chua (head coach), Florence Marie (assistant coach), Slim William (goalkeeper coach), Militna Marie (assistant manager), Wilna Figaro (physiotherapist).
Contributed