Football Newly-formed St Louis Challengers receive new batch of equipment |10 March 2023

The players in a souvenir photo with Ms Maria and coach Sopha (Photo: Roland Duval)

St Louis Challengers, a newly-formed youth club from the district of St Louis, have received a batch of uniform which was long-awaited since the young players had started training in September last year.

Gathering players between eight and 15 years old, the club, under the guidance of ex-Seychelles international goalkeeper Nelson Sopha, is an initiative of two sisters, namely Lisette Maria and Bernadette Marquis, who both grew up in the St Louis neighbourhood, before pursuing their careers abroad.

The goal of the project is to empower the youths through exchange programmes, while pulling them away from bad influences, such as drugs, alcohol, prostitution and violence which are affecting the society

The young players received their new equipment on Tuesday during a small ceremony at the district’s playing field, in the presence of member of the National Assembly (MNA) Sathya Naidu, director general for community affairs Denise Clarisse, parents and family members.

The equipment are from Switzerland where Ms Marquis is presently residing and working as a football coach.

In a brief address, Ms Maria noted that even if everything is almost in place for the smooth running of the club, things have not been easy to begin with.

She explained that most of the coaches approached were asking for huge amount of money, until he met Sopha, and upon sharing her plan, the latter agreed to lend a hand free of charge.

She also noted that as children they have seen the many successes of sports in their community, and as a way of giving back to their community they came up with the idea of creating a youth football club, along with possible exchange programmes between youths from Seychelles and Switzerland.

On his part, MNA Naidu described the setting up of the club as the perfect example where members have taken ownership of their community, coming up with initiatives and projects which will benefit the youths.

He also pledged the authority’s support towards the project, especially through the resurfacing of the field, and also changing and toilet facilities.

Roland Duval