2025 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup |15 February 2025

The Russian consultants: Pavel Bazhenov (second left) and Anton Shakarin (second right) (Photo: Contributed)

Gruelling test matches ahead for Seychelles

The senior men’s beach soccer national team are stepping up their preparation for the historic 2025 Fifa World Cup in Seychelles, with a series of gruelling test matches as of next week.

This follows a decison made by government, via the National Sports Council, to help the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) in facilitating the team’s preparation for this, the most important world sport event to be held in the country.

Government has agreed to help the team to travel abroad for training camps as well as test matches both locally and abroad. It has also organised for two foreign coaching consultants to be attached to the team through its bilateral cooperation programme with Russia.

The team’s training programme, leading up to the May 1-11 competition, is aimed at enabling the players to reach their highest level of preparation and performance possible.

Other sponsors willing to help in this démarche, are being urged to come forward to help the team in taking their place in history.

Team Seychelles will kick off this series of test matches by travelling to the Senegalese capital Dakar on Sunday where they are expected to play three test matches against Senegal, one of the two African nations who have qualified sportingly for the World Cup.

They will play the Senegalese national team on three consecutive days February 19, 20 and 21.

While Seychelles have qualified for the World Cup as hosts, Senegal and Mauritania are through as the two other representatives from the African continent.

Europe is the other continent where the qualifiers have already been decided. They are Portugal, Italy, Belarus and Spain. Tahiti has qualified from the Oceania group of countries.

Yet to be decided are three representatives from Asia (Asian Football Confederation), two from Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football), and three from Conmebol (South American Football Confederation).

A total of 16 teams will take part in the Seychelles 2025 Fifa Beach World Cup. This will be the first time this competition is held in an African country, let alone one of the smallest of the continent.

National team head coach Herald Kowlessur explained that the team have been training constantly for the past year and it was now time to intensify the programme with training camps and test matches against strong foreign opponents.

“We now have to play as many matches as possible so that we can correct our mistakes and sharpen our skills,” he said.

The Russian consultants who arrived in Seychelles yesterday are of the same opinion after meeting the team for the first time.

“I believe you have the physique. What you need now is to work on your fitness, techniques and tactics, through test matches,” Pavel Bazhenov, who will be working with the outfield players, told the players.

The other Russian consultant, Anton Shakarin, will be working with the goalkeepers. Both are expected to travel with the team to Senegal on Sunday where they will have their first assessment of the players in a tough match setting.

The delegation for the February 16-25 Senegalese trip is made up of 16 players and nine officials.

They are:

Players

Damien Adela, Dominic Bouchereau, Mike Balette, Ryan Servina, Herrode Prosper, Rondy Onezime, Terrence Amade, Joel Morgan, Amede Marie, Huguain Crow, Stephen Lajoie, Remy De Ketelaere, Mikael Jumaye, Micheal Cadeau, Glenny Gamatis and Davyan Hoareau.

Officials

Lewis Madeleine (head of delegation), Herald Kowlessur (head coach), James Steve Hertel (assistant coach), Sam Moses (medical officer) Damien Jean (kit manager), Peggy Freminot (manager), Jonathan Hoareau (media/statistics), Pavel Bazhenov and Anton Shakarin (consultants).    

Contributed