Handball: Seychelles Handball Federation (SHF) Cup finals-It’s a double for Mont Fleuri, AC Brothers retain men’s title |04 December 2007

Mont Fleuri complete double

Like Anse Boileau (in 2003, 2004 and 2005) and Arsu (in 2006) before them, Mont Fleuri celebrated a League and Cup double last Saturday with a 42-27 victory over outgoing champions Arsu in the SHF Cup final.
After a tense start by both teams who missed penalties, Bethilna César opened the scoring for Arsu. The score remained tight until 5-5 before Mont Fleuri took the initiative with Venessa Barbé and Zacek scoring each time they made a trip to the Arsu goal.
Under the captaincy of former sprinter Mirenda Francourt, the Mont Fleurians went for the break with a five-point – 17-12 – lead and in the second period, which looked like one-way traffic, they added 25 more goals and conceded 10.
Combining for 26 goals, Barbé (12 goals) and Zacek (14 goals) carried Mont Fleuri’s scoring load, while former player of the year Thelma Sauzier led Arsu in scoring with 10 goals.
Speaking to Sports Nation, Barbé, who along with Williana Dubois and Maureen Auguste are the only three survivors on the original Mont Fleuri team formed in 2002, had this to say:
“I really appreciate what we’ve achieved. It has been a long time coming. We struggled at times during the season as we did not have enough players but we hang in there. We will be back next year and more determined to defend our titles.”

AC Brothers keep title

Last year they played without suspended coach Tony Hortère on their bench and still won. This time, coach Hortère was there and he plotted his team’s 37-31 victory against Durantha Brothers for them to keep the SHF Cup.
Leeroy Samedi was AC Brothers’ top scorer with 10 goals, but it was male player of the year Revens Louise, who is also a volleyballer with the Juniors team, who made the damage in attack and defence.
Like Samedi, young and up-and-coming Dave Bonnelame netted 10 goals for Durantha Brothers who, in the semifinals, eliminated League champions PLS Hurricanes who have missed out on achieving a double for a second consecutive year.
Player of the year Louise said that “the season was OK although we committed some simple mistakes in the league, costing us a first league title. I’m sure we will be back stronger for the 2008 season to challenge for more titles.”
Meanwhile in the female and male youth finals, Pointe Larue Secondary Schools ran away with both titles, beating Anse Royale 12-10 and Anse Boileau 15-9 respectively.

G. G.

2007 handball’s hall of fame

Mohan Women’s League: Mont Fleuri (champions), Arsu (runners-up)
Mohan Men’s League: PLS Hurricanes (champions), AC Brothers (runners-up)
Women’s Curtain-raiser: Arsu (champions), Anse Boileau Sisters (runners-up)
Men’s Curtain-raiser: AC Brothers (champions) PLS Hurricanes (runners-up), 
Women’s SHF Cup: Mont Fleuri (champions), Arsu (runners-up)
Men’s SHF Cup: AC Brothers (champions), Durantha Brothers (runners-up)
Women’s league top scorer: Thelma Sauzier (Arsu) with 101 goals, Venessa Barbé (Mont Fleuri) with 94 goals
Men’s league top scorer: Revens Louise (AC Brothers) with 54 goals, Bradley Stravens (PLS Hurricanes) with 46 goals
Young female player of the year: Debra Volcy (Arsu)
Young male player of the year: Dave Bonnelame (Durantha Brothers)
Female player of the year: winner Leona Zacek (Mont Fleuri), runner-up May-Rose Sinon (Trinity)
Male player of the year: winner Revens Louise (AC Brothers), runner-up Franky Naiken (Durantha Brothers)
Referee of the year: Jason Fred
Coach of the year: Danny Philoé