Football: Sunkiss’d division one-Vojo’s magic touch helps La Passe to championship win |11 October 2004

Diminutive Malagasy striker Eric ‘Didy’ Rajaobery was the toast of the island with his two goals which gave La Passe a 2-1 win and their second championship success in three years.

“I’m happy because I scored both goals to help La Passe win the match and the League title. Even though I missed two good opportunities with the score tied at 1-1, we kept creating for more chances until I got the winner,” said 25-year-old Rajaobery who is in his third season with La Passe.

With his contract as Seychelles coach not renewed in 2001, Vojo Gardasevic took over as La Passe’s coach in 2002 and after a first full season under his leadership, the La Digue-based team were declared joint champions with St Michel.
La Passe though failed to put up a serious title challenge last year when the Yugoslav trainer returned home.

Lured by the La Passe management for a second spell as a member of the team’s coaching staff, but this time as technical advisor, Vojo has helped the Diguois to turn on the style again.

“You can call me magic man. I have the magic touch and know how to give my players expert training and motivate them for matches. I’ve shown everybody, who’s Vojo.
 
Today (Saturday), we played a tough match against a good Red Star side who were not as good as La Passe though. We deserve to be champions,” Vojo told Sports Nation.
After his team’s success, Vojo was even congratulated by Saomany Hafany, coach of the island’s second top flight team Anse Réunion.

Pushed on by their very vocal supporters who had lined up around the field of play, in the stands and even in Takamaka trees, La Passe took the lead in the 39th minute following two successive corners.

Used as a left-back by La Passe, Seychelles right-back Verna Rose hoisted the corner kick which Rajaobery flicked home with a header. Even though Jeffrey Brutus attempted to clear the ball with his head, he could only help it into the net.
After Taly and Wilnes Brutus had wasted two opportunities to level the score, Red Star equalised in the 58th minute.

Malagasy striker René-Yves Raonizory went down under Ted Esther’s challenge and referee Gonzagues Boniface awarded Red Star a penalty which left-back Ted Radegonde slotted past La Passe’s goalkeeper Vincent Euphrasie.

As La Passe prepared to send in Malagasy Amisy Voavy, they nearly conceded a second goal in the 71st minute but central defender Henry Ladouce produced a last-ditch clearance on the goalline.

This was all Red Star could produce in terms of goal-scoring opportunities as La Passe asserted their superiority in the final 15 minutes, creating at least four good chances.

With Amisy to his left and free from all markings, Rajaobery decided to go for glory in the 78th minute but he was unable to beat Red Star’s goalie Valentin who was already on the ground.

A minute later, Malagasy captain Bruno Saindini played a short corner to Rajaobery who released him. The captain’s left-footed shot was fumbled by keeper Valentin and the ball hit the left post before rolling into corner.

Bruno then released Rajaobery with a defence-splitting pass but the striker’s effort was again blocked by goalie Valentin. The rebound fell to Amisy who sent his shot into the side-netting.

After his series of misses, Rajaobery reserved the best for last. On the stroke of full-time, La Passe’s goalie Euphrasie, who had made a good catch, played the ball to Amisy who immediately released Rajaobery. With the Red Star defence caught napping, the striker bore on goal and beat goalie Valentin at the near post with a low shot.

La Passe’s supporters went wild as they celebrated the goal which meant winning the Sunkiss’d division one league crown with two games to spare.

Red Star players protested that Rajaobery was offside when he collected Amisy’s pass and referee Boniface had to wait a good five minutes for order to be restored on the pitch before play could resume.

Red Star, who garnered just four points out of a possible 18 in six games, knew that they could not stop La Passe from winning and defeat was hard to swallow. Even team president Walter Confait had harsh words for referee Boniface inside the Ile des Palmes airport on the way back to Mahe Saturday night.
Meanwhile, St Louis shot to second place on Saturday with a 7-0 thrashing of bottom side Plaisance at Stad Linite.

Alpha Baldé scored a hat-trick (1st, 70th and 71st minutes), fellow striker Philip Zialor added two (7th and 46th minutes), while Sylla Gwada (48th) and Terrence Kilindo (82nd minute) scored one apiece.

Last Friday at the same venue, Light Stars consolidated fifth place in the standings with a 1-0 win over SMB. Rwandan Kakule Ndaleni scored the winner two minutes from time.

G. G.