Football: 'Play Soccer, Make Peace' competition-St Louis Youth triumph |01 March 2005

The competition, sponsored by the World Association of Non-Governmental Organisation (Wango), involved under-19 teams who participated in last year's Vijay Youth League and in the inner islands league.

The Saints have prolific striker Fabien Cadeau to thank for their victory as he scored a brace to inspire his team to victory and finish the competition with a total of US$5,000.

St Louis, who edged South Olympic 2-1 in the semifinal, dominated Sunday's game and created so many chances that they should have been home and dry after the first period.

Left-back Trevor Poiret set up St Louis' first chance in the fifth minute which Don Edward fluffed as his control let him down.

In the 15th minute, skipper Archille Henriette failed to punish goalie Pascal Shamyle's blunder as he dropped Poiret's scorcher.

Henriette's 17th minute shot was parried into corner by La Digue Youth's goalie Shamyle after Cadeau had split open the opposing team's defence with a brilliant reverse pass.

St Louis Youth's efforts paid off in the 18th minute when left-footed Cadeau fired home from close range a Poiret well-curled corner.

Gervais Waye-Hive found himself in acres of space as La Digue Youth's rearguard was again stretched in the 25th minute, but the young midfielder's ground-level shot was cleared on the goalline by a defender.

La Digue Youth, 3-1 victors over Light Stars in the other semifinal, responded in the 32nd minute on a counter-attack but lanky striker Jude Payet shot wide Matteo Corbari's teasing cross.

The second half was almost a repetition of the first with St Louis having total control but striker Cadeau missed a great opportunity in the 49th minute after Waye-Hive had squared the ball to him.

La Digue Youth tried to raise their game and they almost drew level in the 70th minute, only for Payet's effort to roll wide from a Nicolas Mussard assist on a through ball.

St Louis Youth put the issue beyond doubt a minute before the final whistle. Francis Annette chest-trapped a long ball played by Ron Hertel and after a brilliant control he released the unmarked Cadeau on the left flank.Cadeau wasted no time to send his shot deep into keeper Shamyle's net to seal the Diguois' fate.

St Louis Youth's trainer Nigel Hertel, himself a former Seychelles, St Louis and St Michel defender, told Sports Nation  after the game that they were expecting a win.

"We knew that the final would be ours. We had a great game and the players were brilliant. The competition on the whole was very well organised and we are looking  forward to the next edition," said Hertel.

As for St Louis Youth's team manager Davis Khan, he said that they will use most of the money to buy new equipment.

"Most of the money will be used to purchase new equipment, but we are also looking into the possibility of organising a training camp soon. The money will definitely be spent wisely for the benefit of the team," Khan said.

For his part, La Digue Youth's coach Marius Fanchette had this to say:
"My players were very tired today (Sunday) after having played two tough matches on consecutive days. But there is no doubt St Louis played better than us and they deserve their win," he said, adding that they are yet to decide what to do with the US$4,000.
Georges Bibi, chairperson of the organising committee, said that the competition was
a success.

"On the whole, the competition was a success. There are few areas where we can improve, but I guess people learn from their mistakes. We are not sure whether there will be a similar competition in the future as it will all depend on the sponsor (Wango).

All participating teams have expressed the desire to compete in the competition again. We have been asked to send video clips and copies of articles about the competition to Wango and I guess from there they will decide whether or not to sponsor the competition again," said Mr Bibi.

Meanwhile, the third-place play-off match was won by Light Stars Youth after their 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory over South Olympic Youth. Both teams failed to score after 80 minutes of play in normal time.

All participating teams received US$2,000. The winners got US$3,000 to bring their total to US$5,000, the runners-up US$2,000 (total US$4,000), and third place finishers US$1,000 (total US$3,000).

The winners, runners-up and third-place finishers received their prizes, which included cups, from the hands of former President James Mancham.

It is to note that Mr Mancham was approached by Wango to work in partnership with the organisation in the implementation of a project to develop youth soccer and promote it as a vehicle for peace.

C. J.