Sport Awards of the Year 2019 |27 December 2019
Best coaches and officials selected
As it has been the case for the athletes, the various local sporting associations and federations have selected their best coaches and officials for the traditional Sports Awards ceremony set for January 31 at the NSC Multipurpose Hall, Roche Caïman.
Initially, the award ceremony, commonly known as the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards, targeted athletes who have excelled in their respective discipline, but over the years it has been extended to accommodate coaches, volunteers, officials, sports federations and associations, educational institutions and disabled athletes.
While most associations have respected the criteria set by the selection committee, others chose to mock the scheme by filling in illegal entries in their manoeuvre to ridicule the award scheme and also the local sporting system as a whole.
A clear example is the Seychelles Swimming Association (SSA) which selected Guillaume Bachman as their coach of the year.
Suspended by the National Sports Council (NSC), Bachman has been in the limelight this year for inappropriate behaviour with an underage female swimmer.
A case which should have been dealt with under Article 3.1(n) of the SSA constitution: “formulate or adopt and implement appropriate policies, in relation to sexual harassment…and any other matters as may arise from time to time”.
Instead, Bachman now features on the list of best coaches of the year.
Well known for its non-compliancy and already under the microscope of theoffice of the Registrar General, the SSA has once again proved that it can do whatever it wants and that the authority has no power, whatsoever, over it.
Allowing Bachman’s name to appear on the form, let alone accepting it is already a negative sign and an urgent call for a total revamp of the sport’s governing body.
The SSA has also gone as far as nominating two candidates in each category when it is clearly written that only one coach and one official should be selected.
As for the Seychelles Football Federation, it has not named any best player but only its best officials, while the Seychelles Cycling Association has decided not to comply at all.
The best coaches and officials of the year
Athletics: Carlos Vizcaino Sanchez (coach), Marie-Andrée Cupidon (Official)
Basketball: Roy Noël (coach), Atila Cadence (official)
Boxing: Gerry Legras (coach), John Figaro (official)
Chess: Rachelle Hoareau (coach), Bernadette Contoret (official)
Dominoes: Mamod Essack (coach)
Football: Bernard Camille (official)
Hockey: Louis Mambé: (coach), Emmanuel Madeleine (official)
Handball: Danny Philoé (coach), May-Rose Sinon (official)
Judo: Nady Jeanne (coach), Ravi Valmont (official)
Karting: Louisa Lafortune (coach), Roland Delcy (official)
Karate: James Faure (coach)
Netball: Marie-Claire Damoo (official)
Swimming: Guillaume Bachman, Vanessa Narty (coaches), Maureen Payet, Laurette Miller (officials)
Tennis: Marie-May Isnard (coach)
Volleyball: Julien Onezime (coach), Elsia Vidot (official)
Weightlifting: William Dixie (coach), Robert Rose (official)
Disabled: Robert Suzette (coach)
Roland Duval