FIFA Tier-1 International Football Friendly |23 March 2023
The Seychelles delegation before their departure Tuesday night
Seychelles hope to end stalemate against Bangladesh
Seychelles’ senior men’s national team hope to break the jinx of always drawing their games against Bangladesh when the two nations meet for two FIFA Tier-1 international friendly matches in Bangladesh later this month.
Seychelles and Bangladesh have met twice in international competitions over the years with both games ending in draws.
“We will be all out to end the stalemate this time and win the matches,” said the head of delegation and manager of the Seychelles national team Michael Delpech before the team’s departure on Tuesday night.
The 31-member delegation consisting of 23 players and eight officials left for Bangladesh via Dubai. The matches have been scheduled for March 25 and 28 with the delegation due back on March 30.
This will be the team’s first international competition this year and it forms part of their preparation for the Indian Ocean Islands Games scheduled to take place in Madagascar in August/September this year.
The trip has been made possible with assistance from the National Sports Council (NSC) as part of IOIG preparation and the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF). The Bangladesh Football Federation will bear some of the local cost in Bangladesh.
The 23 selected players come from the following teams: St Michel (6), Foresters (4), St Louis (2), Lightstars (1), Bel Air (2), Anse Reunion (1), Bazar Brothers (2). There are also two foreign-based players from the United Kingdom. They are Michael Mancienne from Burton Albion and Daryl Louis from Abingdon United.
Seychelles National Team coach Vivian Both said the matches will allow him to see his players playing together competitively for the first since they played their last competitive match against San Marino last year which ended in a goalless draw.
“We have some new players as well and it will give the team’s management the opportunity to see how they gel,” he contributed.
He added that it was an advantage to have such test matches early in the year as it would allow the management to make changes where and if necessary.
As for manager Delpech, he explained that the door was still open for any player who met the criteria to be integrated into the national team.
“After the Bangladesh games we will continue with our scouting to ensure that we do not miss anyone who has the qualities,” said Mr Delpech.
Although both games between Seychelles and Bangladesh in the past ended in a stalemate, the latter is ranked higher than the former on the FIFA World Ranking table. Bangladesh are ranked 192nd and Seychelles 199th.
The positions of one of the two teams will definitely change after the two international friendly games recognised by FIFA as Tier-1 encounters.
The Seychelles delegation is made up of the following:
Management
Michael Delpech (HOD and team manager), Vivian Both (head coach), Bruno Saindina (assistant coach), Rodney Choisy (assistant coach), Jules Gonthier (assistant coach), Alex Nibourette (assistant coach), Andrew Michel (medical officer), Kenneth Henriette (team doctor).
The team
Goalkeepers: Joshua Vengadasamy, Alvin Michel, Romeo Padayachy.
Defenders: Danny Madeleine, Daryl Louis, Michael Mancienne, Don Fanchette, Stenio Marie, Kenner Nourrice, Juninho Mathiot, Colyn Francourt, Warren Mellie, Brandon Molle, Ramlee Pascal.
Midfielders: Jean-Yves Ernesta, Brandon Labrosse, Neil Confiance, Dean Balette, Assad Aboudou.
Strikers: Josip Ravignia, Darian Hoareau, Ryan Henriette, Dieter Constance.
Contributed