Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria – from July 11 to 23-61 athletes on biggest ever delegation |04 July 2007
Seychellois sportsmen and women will compete in nine of the 21 sporting events at the Games which will run from July 11 to 23. The events Seychellois athletes will participate in are athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, sailing, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and weightlifting.
On the Seychelles team are 24 male and female volleyballers, four cyclists, two athletes, six sailors, six badminton players, six boxers, four weightlifters, six table tennis players and three swimmers.
The country’s women’s volleyball team have been drawn in pool A along with hosts Algeria, South Africa, Congo-Brazaville, Ethiopia and Ghana.
Seychelles finished third in their groups in the last two editions of the All-Africa Games in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1999 and in Abuja, Nigeria in 2003.
Women’s pool B is made up of Kenya, Tunisia, Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and Senegal.
In the men’s competition, Seychelles, who also finished third in their group in the last two editions of the Games, have been drawn in pool A alongside Congo Brazaville, South
Africa, Algeria, Ghana and Kenya.
Tunisia, Senegal, Egypt, Cameroon, Botswana and Nigeria make up pool B.
The previous highest total of athletes to represent Seychelles in an edition of the Games is 59 and this was in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1999.
Team Seychelles will jet out for Algiers, via Paris, France, for this year's Games in two groups. The first group will leave on Friday July 6 and the second contingent will depart on Sunday July 8.
As is the case each time Seychellois athletes compete in an international event, the target is to better the previous best which is 16 medals – 10 silver and six bronze – achieved in Abuja, Nigeria in 2003.
Most importantly for Seychelles is for the athletes to win the country its first medal of the gold hue at these Games.
Seychellois athletes have shown in the past that they have the potential to compete with the best and even beat the best to be the best themselves.
Once again, this is the time and the right stage for them to show that they have fire in their bellies and that they can fly the Seychelles flag high.
With their good showing and medal-winning performances, the sportsmen and women are expected to better the results of the last Games and help Seychelles take a commanding place on the final medals table.
National Sports Council’s managing director Eric Arnephie is the head the delegation and James Barreau is the chef de mission.
A medical team comprising sports doctor Ruben Gil and physiotherapist Yvonne Legaie will also accompany the delegation. Seychelles Nation’s sports journalist Gerard Govinden and volleyball referee Derrick Andrew are also on the delegation.
Team Seychelles’ participation at this year’s All-Africa Games has been sponsored by the Seychelles government and the Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc).
Team Seychelles for the Ninth All-Africa Games
Athletics: William Woodcock (high jump) and Lindy Leveau-Agricole (javelin)
Coaches: Mikolai Avilov and Wolfgang Ritzdorf
Badminton: Georgie Cupidon, Juliette Ah-Wan, Catherina Paulin, Steve Malcouzane, Cynthia Course and Nicholas Jumaye
Coaches: Calix Francourt and Luo Gui Hui
Boxing: Dave César (51kg), MacFarlène Estrale (57kg), Jean-Paul Mellie (60-kg), Kitson Julie (64kg), Alvin Gabriel (69kg) and Patrick Camille (+91kg)
Coaches: Pedro Pacheco and Jerry Legras
Cycling: Francis Louis, Leeroy Labiche, Hedson Mathieu and Bertrand Lesperance
Coach: Lucas Georges
Sailing: Paul Morel (Laser radial), Kenny Constance (Laser radial), Michel Bristol (Laser standard), Beth Gertrude (Laser standard), Meggy Gertrude (Laser radial) and Allan Julie (Laser standard)
Coach: Frank Jean
Swimming: Steven Mangroo, Bertrand Bristol and Shannon Austin
Coach: Manuel Marin
Table tennis: Archille Dodin, Anissa Benstrong, Godfrey Sultan, Janice Esparon, Maria Laure and Garry Elizabeth
Coach: Peter Youpa
Volleyball ladies: Jerina Bonne, Marielle Bonne, Marie-Antoine Gilbert, Teryl Songoire, Annie Appasamy (formerly Dugasse), Kelly Matombé, Marie-Ange Bouchereau, Nathalie Agnes, Marie-Claude Laurence, Marille Benoit, Tina Agathine and Sandra Joseph
Coaches: Maurice Denys and Jude Preira
Manager: Bernard Denis
Volleyball men: Rodney Ah-kong, Ian Furneau, Bernard Bijoux, Tony Songor, Guilly Bijoux, Jude Frederick, Perrin Sophola, Nigel Pierre, Kishnan Chetty, Jones Mangroo, Paul Rose and Alison Alcindor
Coaches: Nichol Lesperance, Julien Onezime and French technical advisor Jean-Michel Roche
Manager: Ralph Dine
Weightlifting: Clementina Agricole (58kg), Janet Thélermont (69kg), Charles Siméon (77kg) and Elvis Jeanne (94kg)
Coaches: Reginald Estro and William Dixie
G. G.