National Sports Council |08 July 2023

Chief executive of the NSC Marc Arissol handing over the equipment to Mr Pillay and Ms Joubert (Photos: Roland Duval)

Basketball and volleyball federations receive equipment from NSC

In support of their activities, while fostering the growth of their respective sports, two local sporting federations, namely volleyball and basketball, yesterday received a batch of equipment from the National Sports Council.

It was National Sports Council (NSC) chief executive Marc Arissol who handed over the equipment to the secretary general of the Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) Adrian Pillay and his counterpart from the Seychelles Volleyball Federation (SVF) Christine Joubert.

The donation, which was put on hold to await several administrative procedures, is a symbol of the good working collaboration between the NSC and the local sporting associations and federations.

Mr Arissol noted that the equipment come at an opportune time when the NSC is working intensively towards youth development programmes in schools which recently started with volleyball, and will switch to basketball next term.

He noted that the gesture reaffirms the government’s commitment to encourage and promote sports, especially among the youth, while urging the two federations to put the equipment to good use to boost the process of producing the country’s next generation of players.

On behalf of the SBF, Mr Pillay said, primarily, the new equipment will be absorbed in the preparation of the national selections for the upcoming 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG), while a latter evaluation will be done regarding on whether there will be any disbursement, or if it will be used by the SBF for general purposes.

As for SVF executive committee member Elsia Vidot, she explained that all the equipment will go entirely towards their youth development programme, which, she added, is progressing according to plan.

She said, the equipment, mainly shoes, will be used to help young players once they are absorbed in the cadet programme.

Miss Vidot further added that the equipment is also a big plus for them since some of their previous suppliers were forced to shut down their operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Roland Duval