Swimming: 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games |17 July 2023
The Roche Caïman swimming pool, home of unnecessary ongoing drama (Photo: Neil Sirame)
‘Discipline over talents and skills’
∙ Who is really running Seychelles swimming?
‘Discipline over talents and skills’ shall be the crucial criteria in regards to the selection process for athletes representing the country at any level, has been the message by Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Marie-Celine Zialor since she took office in October 2020.
Almost three years on, the authority is yet to put into application the statement, raising questions on who are really in charge of what, and who are responsible to take crucial decisions, without the fear of offending others, or in that matter, perhaps enduring some sort of intimidation from several individuals who think they are untouchable, and can take matters into their own hands.
With a little more than a month remaining before the start of the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) which will be held in Madagascar from August 25 to September 3, the local swimming authority is still engaging in unnecessary dealings regarding who should be, and who should not be part of Team Seychelles for the IOIG, entangled in a battle of ‘discipline over talents and skills’.
Disciplinary action against athletes in relation to representing the country was never an issue in the past, whereby in March 2014, the Seychelles Volleyball Federation (SVF) prohibited Seychelles captain and player of the year 2013 Ian Furneau from playing for Beau Vallon in the African club championship after he did not make the national team for the 2014 Men’s World Championships pool V African qualifiers in Tunis, Tunisia, while in October 2017, the Arsu duo of Jerina Bonne and Marielle Bonne were hit with five-year bans, again by the SVF, for refusing to take part in the Commonwealth Games beach volleyball African qualifiers in Sierra Leone.
In 2023, with the expected evolution in local sports, especially in terms of management, it is sad to see that the authority concerned is still unable to take firm and immediate actions against those who still think they can colour outside the lines.
How it all started?
Between June 24-25 this year, the Hamdam Bin Mohamed Bin Rashid Sports Complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates hosted the Hamilton Aquatics Summer Sizzler, where Seychelles was being represented by two parties, namely the national selection and the Adventure Sports Club.
The question asked was ‘Why was the club allowed to separately partake in the competition, enrolling two of its swimmers who were already part of the national pre-selection, attending the same tournament?
According to the club, through a press release, green light to take part was given to them by the National Sports Council (NSC) which now governs the sport, after the previous governing body – the Seychelles Swimming Association (SSA) – was struck off the list of the Registrar General, due to its non-compliance to the Registration of Associations Act (ROA).
In its reply, the NSC said the press release contained false information and that since the two swimmers were part of the selection to compete at the very competition, there was no reason to give approval for them to go on their own.
Still according to the council, the action portrayed a lack of respect for the coaching staff of the national selection, while a decision whether or not to accept one of the two swimmers back in the national team after the competition rested on the swimming caretaker committee made up of NSC chief executive Marc Arissol (chairman), 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 national selection, it is presently under the guidance of head coach Barnsley Albert who is being assisted by Robert Suzette.
To try and settle the matter, members of the committee met with the swimmer in question last Thursday, along with her parents, coach and club representatives.
Again, the question popping up is, why prompt and severe actions were taken in the past in regards to representing the country, while in this situation, unnecessary meetings are needed to try and pacify situations which have readily available solutions?
Should talented athletes be treated differently while others endure severe punishments based on related situations?
The motto ‘discipline over talents and skills’ is definitely not being applied in that particular case.
The outcome of the meeting
After not getting any official report or feedback on the outcome of the meeting, Sports NATION managed to come into contact with a reliable source close enough to the gathering which was rather chaotic, than productive.
According the source, during the meeting held in the absence of coach Albert, the swimmer’s club coach made it crystal clear that, under no circumstance, whatsoever, the swimmer will train under the national team head coach, stressing that the swimmer can swim for the national selection at the IOIG, but will remain under his guidance until the last day.
How come something like that can even be negotiated, let alone be countered through official procedures, when a straight and daring decision should have been taken straight away?
How can someone who train alone integrate a national selection on competition day, without knowing the team’s strategy, or plans?
What about the team’s spirit and moral during preparation?
The statement, surprisingly, was welcomed and supported by one of the parents, while the other party clearly showed dislike towards it.
Still according to the source, the meeting produced no solutions, while the athlete would be sent a formal letter – through her club – officially notifying her that she has been selected for the national selection, while failure to comply will result in further disciplinary actions.
Again, why should the authority be begging people to comply, when in the past, disciplinary actions were taken without hesitation?
Why should a single athlete and club bring the authority to its knees, when there is already an existing structure, and people just decide to ignore, or underrate it?
It is worth noting that coach Albert is Level 5 certified by the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA).
The ASCA is recognised internationally as an industry leader via affiliates across the globe and currently has thousands of accredited coaches involved in coaching athletes/teams at all levels of participation from the club through to Olympic and professional sporting levels.
He is also Level 4 certified under the framework of the Olympic Scholarship Programme for Coaches of the Olympic Solidarity of the International Olympic Committee which falls under the International Support Programme to the African and Caribbean Sport (Paisac)
The IOIG selection
Despite the ongoing saga, coach Albert has already named his final 16-member squad for the IOIG – including the swimmer in question – noting that they will start with a meeting at the Roche Caïman swimming pool this afternoon, while any selected swimmer who is presently in the country and fails to attend, will automatically be crossed off the list.
The male team is made up of Adam Moncherry, Simon Bachman, Amos Ferley, Thierry Payet, Damien Payet, Luca Soleil-Arnephy, Yves Fock-Heng and Nathan Nagapin.
As for the female squad, Sports NATION will publish it after this afternoon’s meeting.
Roland Duval