Football: Legend Foundation – National Day Cup (Gonzague Boniface Charity Match) |26 June 2023

Winners of the inaugural National Day Cup the Inner Island Legends (Photo: Roland Duval)

Didi’s brace gives Inner Island Legends inaugural National Day Cup

The inaugural National Day Cup sailed across the sea on Saturday after a brace from former La Passe and Revengers striker Didi, 51, secured a win for the Inner Islands Legends over their Mahé counterparts in the second charity event hosted by the Legend Foundation at Stad Popiler.

Saturday’s match, other than bringing entertainment, was the occasion for the ex-players, or legends to bring their support towards another of their own, namely ex-Plaisance and Seychelles international no-nonsense central defender Gonzague Boniface. Also a former referee, Boniface will use the financial assistance for medical expenses.

Now engraved as a permanent event on the official calendar of activities for the National Day celebrations, Saturday’s activity was held in partnership with the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps), of which the Legend Foundation is an affiliated member.

Saturday’s event was graced by the presence of chief executive of the National Sports Council (NSC) Marc Arissol, vice-president of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) Dolor Ernesta among other guests.

It was the Mahé Legends coached by Jeris Cesar, assisted by Ulric ‘Keker’ Mathiot who took the lead in the first half through ex-Sunshine, St Louis and Seychelles international striker Alpha Baldé, before Didi equalised for the Inner Islanders who were receiving instructions from coach Roderick Rose, concluding the first half on a 1-1 tie.

After both sides huffed and puffed in the second period of the match, it was Didi who again found space in the Mahé Legends’ defence to score the winner for the inner islands side.

Despite being an entertainment and charity match, the encounter did have several moments of serious competitiveness which kept the fans on the edge of their seats, with the duel being between Baldé and Inner Islands Legends skipper Didier Suzette who was committed in keeping the former at bay.

Other than the inaugural National Day Cup which was presented by Mr Arissol, there was a special recognition award for coach César who led the young Seychelles selection to the gold medal at the 1993 Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien (CJSOI) tournament.

He received a trophy from Inner Island Legend player Christopher Poris who was also part of the 1993 gold medal-winning selection, and a monetary reward from chairman of the Legend Foundation Don Anacoura.

Founded last year, the Legend Foundation is an engaged community for the recognition and well-being of past legendary Seychellois football players, by conducting charitable activities for charity purposes for past football players.

The objective of the foundation is to encourage sportsmanship and recognition beyond competitive sports, while creating a platform to bring along former football players.

It also supports projects to make a difference and give back to former football players.

In its first activity last year, the foundation assisted ex-St Louis and Seychelles international player Vincent ‘Tolor’ Dorasamy with a substantial monetary contribution towards his medical expenses.

Mahé Legends: Nelson Sopha, Vincent Confait, Egbert Havelock, Marius Bamboche, Jerris Nourice, Alex Labiche, Godfrey Denis, Steve Sanders, Danny Cesar, Lorenzo Mathiot, Marcel Labiche, Gerald Gonthier, Senville Tirant, Garry Robert, Robert Morel, Paul Khan, Roy Julie, Alpha Baldé, George Ravinia, Philip Zialor, Alain Jean, Michel Renaud, Roger Labonte, George César, Cyril Créa, Steven Constance, Roddy Victor, Brian Ravinia, Kenneth Lozaique, Marcel Labiche, Andrew Jean-Louis (players), Jeris César (coach), Ulric Mathiot (assistant coach).

Inner Island Legends: Philip Battin, Claude Battin, Francis Zialor, Jean-François Dora, Jonas Esther, Didier Suzette, Jude Ladouce, Simon Rose, Vincent Bresson, Wilfred Fanchette, Didi, Verna Rose, Dan Rose, Christopher Poris, Clifford Joubert, Jeremie Waye-Hive, Jude Bibi, José Pillay, Albert Ladouceur, Etienne Fanchette, Rocky Uranie, Bruno Saindini, Colin Brioche, Andy Rath, Andy Ernesta, Ricky Rose, David Dorby, Juel Ah-Kong (players), Roderick Rose (coach).

Roland Duval