Football League champions Foresters choose ‘country over club’ |22 July 2023
From left to right: Mr Delorié, Mr Rose and Mr Pierre (Photo: Roland Duval)
• Pull out of Caf Champions League for players to make IOIG team
With the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games fast approaching and when some people are still eager to show their ego by trying hard to denigrate members of the local coaching cadre, football National Champions League winners Foresters have taken one of, if not, the most patriotic decisions ever in the history of Seychelles sports.
Automatically qualified for the Total Energies Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League, Foresters have decided to withdraw their participation with the intention of boosting the national selection for the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG). Why such a decision? The dates for preliminaries of the continental competition clash with those of the IOIG.
The current national selection feature six regulars of Foresters, namely Warren Mellie, Darrel Damoo, Ryan Henriette, Brandon Molle, Brandon Labrosse and Colin Bibi.
It was team manager Michel Pierre who made the announcement yesterday during a press conference held at the Maison Football, Roche Caïman, in the presence of chief executive of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) Denis Rose, and SFF director of competitions Clive Delorié.
Mr Pierre said the decision, which he described as lengthy and difficult, was taken purely with the country’s interest at heart. He added that it involved everyone within the club, at every level. He added that all those involved came to a common consensus that Seychelles is greater than Foresters, and the decision to drop the club’s participation in the Caf Champions League was welcomed by everyone concerned.
He said, prior the decision, the club was aware of a possible fine, but putting the country first, Foresters decided to pull out and is therefore inviting the authority – government – , businesses, sponsors and anyone who can help to cover a possible fine from Caf to come forward and help the club.
Mr Rose explained that the SSF had already filled all formalities within deadline, and as a result of pulling out of the Caf Champions League after registration, there is a fine of US $3,000.
He added that the players had the choice to either play for Foresters or the national selection, and as a federation they have to respect any decision taken by the club, or support them.
He said as a federation, the SFF will accept the fine when it comes, since the decision was based on national interest.
He added that even if the SFF wrote to Caf, telling them about the clash in fixtures, the latter could not readjust the match dates due to its congested schedule.
In view that the SFF wrote to Caf informing them of the clash, Mr Rose said they are still waiting to see if Caf will impose the fine.
It is worth noting that a similar decision has been taken by Malagasy defending champions Le Fosa Juniors FC who are feeding eight players to the Barea.
Roland Duval
