Football-Public awaits coach Mak’s return |20 July 2013
According to Seychelles Football Federation secretary general Jemmy Adela, coach Mak has taken a short holiday and is expected back in the country on July 30.
However, the fans are desperate for him to explain especially the thrashing at the hands of our fiercest rivals Mauritius.
For many local football supporters losing to Mauritius is quite painful but to be thumped by such a margin – 4-0 – is just unacceptable.
One should not forget that only two years ago our boys defeated Mauritius twice albeit in the finals on penalties to be crowned kings of the Indian Ocean.
Critics feel that coach Mak got his team selection totally wrong in key areas in this encounter especially with the inclusion of goalkeeper Dave Mussard in the first 11 which was quite a controversial decision in itself.
This choice of Mussard proved costly as the La Passe custodian was at fault for all of the goals against Mauritius.
There are also other players making the squad who were not ready for the task ahead and this added to their disastrous results.
The loss to Namibia though was taken with a pinch of salt as at least our squad managed to score through Yves Zialor, a surprise choice in attack.
But it is rather the defeat to Mauritius which has been the main cause of concern as it is also baffling that Northern Dynamo’s Marcus Maria, the league’s top scorer and Barclays player of the month, did not make the final team.
On a brighter note, Achille Henriette and Collin Esther came out of this tournament with flying colours but overall coach Mak will have to go back to the drawing board as well as accept some of the blame for such performance.
Our football crazy public will forgive him if our team lose to the teams on the African continents but to be humiliated by the dalons of Mauritius in such a manner is a disgrace and should not be allowed to happen again.
R. J-L.