Swimming: 11th Indian Ocean Island Games |18 July 2023

Final selections enter team-oriented final phase of training

As of yesterday, the final male and female selections for the forthcoming 11th Indian Ocean Island Games 2023 scheduled to take place in Madagascar from August 23 to September 3, have entered into their final phase of training which will be team-oriented.

Under the guidance of coach Barnsley Albert, with the assistance of Robert Suzette, the national selection is made up 16 swimmers – eight males and eight females – who have been formally selected through correspondence to their respective clubs.

Prior to yesterday’s training, a briefing session took place to inform the swimmers, along with some parents, regarding the training programme and plan leading up to the Games.

In attendance was also the coaches’ commissioner within the National Sports Council (NSC) Steve Hoareau who also sits on the sport’s caretaker committee, set up 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).

Mr Hoareau made it clear that, as of yesterday, all selected swimmers – who are in the country – will be training together as a team prior to the Games, and not with their clubs or coaches.

Failure to comply, he said, will lead to severe disciplinary actions, at both international and club level.

It should be noted that, after yesterday’s briefing, other than swimmers who are overseas, along with those who had valid reasons not to attend, one selected swimmer in particular was spotted training at club level, rather than with the national selection.

In plain sight, in front of everyone, including the team members and coaches, some people are still thinking that they can manipulate existing structures, and do whatever they want, and still get away with it.

Something which is a total breach of the new conditions set by the authority regarding the national team.

Since the authority has made it clear appropriate actions would be taken against those who are not compliant, everyone is waiting to see what the next step would be.

At what level should such issues go to reach a solution, once and for all?

Roland Duval