Football: HOLLYWOODBETS Cosafa Cup 2023 |05 July 2023
The Seychelles team at the airport yesterday morning (Photo: Contributed)
Seychelles on another quest to pass group stage
The Seychelles men’s senior national football team jetted off to South Africa yesterday morning on another quest to pass the group stage of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations Cup for the first time.
The country’s national team have taken part in several editions of the annual Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup from 2005 to date but have never gone beyond the group stage.
The closest they came was in 2008 following that historic 7-0 victory over Mauritius which until today, according to Cosafa records, remains the largest victory by a team in that competition.
However, even after that outstanding victory, Seychelles could not make it to the quarterfinals then as, despite drawing against Madagascar in the other game, they went on to lose against Swaziland in the third. In those days at least five points were necessary to guarantee qualification to the knockout stage.
This time, with a change in format, a victory and a draw (five points) could very well result in qualification for the knockout stage (semifinals) of the competition, although it will also depend on the scores in the two other groups.
If we go by the enthusiasm and keenness of team manager Michael Delpech and coach Vivian Both, even if Seychelles have been drawn in a very tough group B alongside defending champions Zambia, Malawi and the Comoros, qualification to the semifinal stage is possible.
“It is high time that we emerge from the group stage at this tournament. I believe that it can be done,” said manager Delpech before boarding the Air Seychelles flight to Durban, South Africa yesterday morning.
“Our group is a very tough one, but I think we will stand a chance of qualifying if we start on a good note, that is, by winning our first match comfortably. At times it is during moments of adversity that you thrive,” he said.
Seychelles’ first match will be against the Comoros on Thursday July 6 at 3pm at the King Zwelithini Stadium. The second will feature Malawi on Sunday July 9 at 6pm also at the King Zwelithini Stadium and the third against Zambia on July 11 at 3pm at the Princess Magogo Stadium. All times are South African and the matches will be live on SuperSport.
The team have been training hard for the tournament which also forms part of preparation for the Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in Madagascar in August/September this year. Preparation and participation in the Cosafa Cup have been made partly possible through funds provided by the National Sports Council (NSC) for the preparation of athletes for the IOIG.
Despite the good preparation, coach Both’s main concern is that he had to leave behind regular team captain Benoit Marie who is out with a knee injury.
“We have had to leave him behind as we will need him for the IOIG. We hope he will have recovered by then,” coach Both said.
Also absent from the squad for the Cosafa tournament is Seychelles’ former Chelsea player Michael Mancienne but he will join the team for the IOIG.
Another UK-based player, defender Daryl Louis, and Carl Hopprich who plies his trade in Germany, are the two foreign-based Seychellois players in the squad this time.
The Seychelles delegation consists of 22 players and seven officials. It is led by SFF executive committee member Philip Sinon who will join the squad on Friday.
The format for the Cosafa Cup has been revised this year. It will involve only 12 teams from the region divided into three pools of four teams each, instead of the previous format in which there were two groups of four teams and another six sides entered at the quarterfinal stage. There will also be no Plate competition this year.
South Africa will play in group A along with Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana. Group C will feature Angola, Mauritius, Lesotho and Mozambique.
The top team in each group will advance to the semifinals along with the best-placed runner-up across all three groups.
Organisers believe this new format is better as it ensures each country will play a minimum of three games up to a maximum of five over the course of the competition. It also allows for an extra days’ rest between most pool games, a boost for player welfare.
The 2023 Cosafa Cup will be played from July 5 to 16.
The Seychelles delegation is as follows:
Players: Lesperance Jean-Paul, Alvin Michel, Romeo Padayachy (goalkeepers); Darrel Damoo, Daryl Louis, Julio Brown, Don Fanchette, Warren Mellie, Kenner Nourice, Juninho Mathiot, Ramlee Pascal (defenders);Dean Mothé, Jean Yves Ernesta, Carl Hopprich, Brandon Labrosse, Neil Confiance, Thiery Camille, Dean Balette, Gerick Vidot (midfielders); Josip Ravignia, Ryan Henriette, Hubert Jean (strikers).
Officials: Philip Sinon (head of delegation); Michael Delpech (team manager); Vivian Both (head coach); Bruno Saindina (assistant coach); Jules Gonthier (assistant coach); Andrew Michel (medical officer); Kenneth Henriette (team doctor).
Contributed