In the News... |13 September 2006
Premium Cobras minus Mohamed Ozegya
MOHAMED Buhari Ozegya no longer features on Premium Cobras’ roster. The Nigerian player has been released from his contract and he left the country last Saturday for Mauritius where he will play for Real Club.
Speaking to Sports Nation before boarding the plane, Ozegya felt relieved that he has been able to move on in life. When asked if he would like to come back to Seychelles, he replied: “I don’t think I will come back to Seychelles and I don’t want to come back and play for Premium Cobras.”
“I didn’t achieve anything here (in Seychelles). As a player, I won two gold medals with the Nigeria Under-18 and Under-20 teams in two African Basketball Championships. I played at the World Under-18 Basketball Championships in Greece in 2003 and at the World Under-21 Basketball Championships in Argentina in 2005. I even competed in the African Club Championships with Ebun Comets in 2004. Surprisingly, the Premium Cobras management told me that it is not satisfied with my game. I didn’t ask to play for Premium Cobras, they looked for me. I got what I got. I’ll take the good and bad experiences as future references. Still, I have to thank people like Cyril (Agrippine) and Ahmadou (Sylla) for their help. I’m only 20 years old and they supported me well.”
Shooting guard Ozegya was acquired from Akure-based Ebun Comets in 2005 after his compatriot Benjamin Adayehi left for the USA.
Anti-doping tests start in track and field
THE Seychelles National Anti-Doping Commission (SNADC) has expanded its area of coverage by starting doing doping tests on track and field athletes. All winners in last Saturday’s Closing Season competition were called for drugs tests.
Athletics is the first individual sport to have its athletes screened for doping. Until last Saturday, only footballers, volleyballers, basketballers and handballers had taken the tests.
Assistant coach Joubert parts company with PLS Hawks
HE was not on PLS Hawks’ bench last Saturday at the Palais des Sports but he was in the stands to watch the team’s match against Angels. Assistant to coach Tony Juliette, Clifford Joubert is said to be on the way out with PLS Hawks.
Joubert himself confirmed to Sports Nation yesterday that he is no longer a member of PLS Hawks’ coaching staff.
“I have been absent from PLS Hawks’ bench since the defeat against Baya. I don’t think I will get involved in coaching the team again but I will always love PLS Hawks,” Joubert said.
Asked if it’s true that he is to join Premium Cobras, Joubert answered: “No”.
No Champions League football on SBC?
FOR the time being the answer is no. But yesterday Sports Nation learned from Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) managing director Ibrahim Afif that the local TV station is still in negotiation with the group who has bought the rights from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to air the matches.
Over the years, SBC had been receiving matches from French broadcaster Canal France Internationale (CFI), but according to Mr Afif, the group who has bought the rights to air this season’s UEFA Champions’ League matches has not included Seychelles as a Francophone (French-speaking) country, thus SBC cannot receive matches from CFI.
This means that until a final decision is taken and Seychelles does get included in the French-speaking group to benefit from CFI’s coverage, football lovers will have to watch UEFA Champions League matches on Super Sport channels with Intelvision.