Swimming: 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games 2023 – Madagascar |13 April 2023

NSC chief executive Marc Arissol flanked by head coach Barnsley Albert (left) and assistant coach Robert Suzette (Photo: Roland Duval)  

Caretaker committee to oversee IOIG preparations

• Barnsley Albert, Robert Suzette named national team coaches

It is not a common practice for the government to interfere in the running of local sports, but in the case of swimming, as a last resort, the National Sports Council has set up a caretaker committee to oversee the preparations of local swimmers prior to the forthcoming 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games 2023 scheduled to take place in Madagascar from August 23 to September 3, chief executive Marc Arissol has confirmed.

The committee, chaired by Mr Arissol himself, is made up of coaches’ commissioner Steve Hoareau, principal sports officer Ruudy Joseph who is also responsible for high level sports, and Alain Alcindor, director for sports federations and associations.

As for the swimming national selection, it will be under the responsibility of head coach Barnsley Albert who will be assisted by Robert Suzette.

Mr Arissol explained that after the Seychelles Swimming Association (SSA) was struck off the list of the Registrar due to non-compliance, a new body – the Seychelles Aquatic Federation – came forward to administrate the sport, but due to some technical issues in relation to its constitution, the new federation is yet to be officially recognised by the National Sports Council (NSC).

He said until matters are resolved between the new federation and the Fédération Internationale de Natation (Fina) which regulates the sport globally, the caretaker committee will keep overseeing Seychelles’ swimming, including preparation and planning for the 11th IOIG.

As for the coaching posts, Mr Arissol also explained that all coaches were eligible to apply, but only Albert and Suzette sent their credentials to the committee.

National team head coach is not new to Albert who holds a level-four accreditation after studying under the International Support Programme for African and Caribbean Sport (Paisac) programme and the Canadian National Coaching Accreditation programme in Canada.

As for Suzette, who is also a Paisac graduate, it will be his first time working with the national selection.

Head coach Albert explained that for the time being, the quota for the pre-selection is 30 swimmers (15 males and 15 females) who will remain within their respective clubs for training, while he and Suzette will oversee and monitor.

Meanwhile, their coaches will have to submit their best time to the caretaker committee and coaches by June 4.

He said it has been proven that most of the time, athletes tend to train better and progress smoothly when in familiar environment, with their own coaches and also among familiar peers.

It is only after the submission of personal best times that the final selection will be made, gathering all the chosen swimmers for the final stage of training prior to the IOIG.

As head coach, Albert said his approach is to allow every swimmer the equal chance and possibility to prove themselves and make the team, instead of picking a selection early on.

Roland Duval