The Seychelles Women and Sports Association (Swasa) – International Women’s Day activities |02 March 2023

Securing equal opportunities to lead

• Swasa to recognise women’s leadership in Seychelles’ sports

Compared to the earlier years, women’s representation in senior leadership roles in Seychelles’ sports has considerably increased, with females involved in both sport management education programmes at all level within the industry.

At the highest level, Seychelles has seen two female sports ministers, namely Sylvette Pool and Marie-Celine Zialor.

Mrs Pool held the sports portfolio from1992 to 2006 – 1992-93 as Minister for Local Government and Sports, 1993-94 as Minister for Education and Sports, 1994-2006 as Minister for Local Government, Culture, Sports and Youth, and responsible for the Francophonie, and 2006 as Minister for the Arts, Culture and Sports. As for Minister Zialor, she has been holding the Youth, Sports and Family portfolio since October 2020.

At administration level, the National Sports Council (NSC) which administers local sports was under the leadership of Giovanna Rousseau from August 2013 to August 2018.

As part of the activities to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day, other than the traditional sensitisation fun run at the Roche Caïman fitness trail, the Seychelles Women and Sports Association (Swasa) will be honouring some of the women who held leadership positions within the local sports.

Sports leadership and decision making in the Seychelles context have taken a completely different direction over the past 10 years, illustrating gender equality, which is to date still a major challenge in many countries and states.

Locally, many women have managed to prevail over these barriers, obtaining leadership roles, bringing changes within their sports disciplines, while also being role models for others.

Late last year, young Jana Malbrook was elected in the post of chairperson of the Seychelles Basketball Association (SBF) – a male dominated sphere –, while Tracey Moustache is the head of the National Basketball Technical Committee (NBTC) which is responsible to maintain the proper running of the sport, including all technical and disciplinary aspects.

Still within the SBF, Lina Lestrange is in charge of the coaches’ commission, while it is also worth noting that another woman, namely Sheila Ah-Kong, had previously led the SBF as chairperson.

In early February, ex-female judoka Sandra Jeanne was elected as the new chairperson of the Seychelles Judo Federation (SJF) – a physical and male-oriented sport discipline – again, showing the trust instilled, as well as the competency to take on the challenges.

Fatime Kanté is presently the iron lady behind the development of local tennis, heading the Seychelles Tennis Association (STA), while Dorothy Isidore is in charge of the country’s netball governing body, the Seychelles Netball Association (SNA), following in the path of Delta Ward Horner.

As the chairperson of the Seychelles Darts Association (SDA) Monia Delpeche is mostly surrounded by men, but as a player herself, that does not stop her from moving forward in terms of equal opportunities to lead and shape the future of the sport.

In swimming, the sport which has brought Seychelles the most medals at international level, three women, namely Daniela Adeline, Hazel Austin, as well as the late Phoebe Mangroo, have all took turns in leading and managing the local association towards success.

In chess, Paule Domingue had a go at the leadership of the Seychelles Chess Federation (SCF), while Marie-May Savy also had a spell as the head of the Seychelles Petanque Association (SPA).

As for the Special Olympics Seychelles, it is presently being chaired by Raymonde Onezime, with Hellen Ernesta as the national coordinator, while Erica Celeste is the head coach.

Rose-Marie Uranie played an influential role in the initial formation and the establishment of the Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) in 1979 in Victoria and recognised that same year by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). She was joined by sports-minded and influential persons like Antonio Gopal, Simon Lespoir, Rene Youpa and Walter Fernandez.

Snoc changed its name to Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) in March 2007.

It was in 1999 that ex-Minister Pool set up a women and sports committee, which then set up a sports day for women on International Women's Day on March 8, 1999, while hosting a seminar in May 1999.

The seminar was aimed at identifying problems affecting Seychellois women in sports, and proposing solutions for them.

Following the seminar, the Swasa set up an Action Plan for 2000-2004, outlining its mission to ensure that girls and women have access to a complete range of opportunities and choices, and also equity as participants and leaders in sports and physical activities.

Registered with the Registrar of Associations in August 2007, the Swasa worked in line with the ideas of the initial Women and Sports Committee set up in 1999.

Swasa office bearers were in the past nominated, but it was later decided that they should be elected.

The association was launched by the then National Sports Council chief executive Alain Volcère in late November 2007 and its first chairperson was Anne-Marie Mathiot.

Swasa has also adopted the following mission statement: ‘Increase our registered members and through advocacy establish an institutional recruitment programme with a proper register for data so as to increase the percentage of women in key positions in sports management, associations, federations, officiating, coaches, and bring awareness country-wise to the importance of women in sports and physical activities’.

The present office bearers are Delta Ward Horner (chairperson), Hebetty Alcindor (vice-chairperson), Stephanie Duval (secretary), Chantal Hoffman (treasurer), Antoinette Esparon, Anne-Marie Mathiot, Sandra Jeanne, Simone Malbrook, Hilda Khan (members).

Compiled by Roland Duval