Football-Zialor switches from St Michel to Anse Reunion |21 August 2009
Target man Philip Zialor has left champions St Michel for a reported R15,000 to boost mid-
All the paperwork relating to Zialor’s transfer was completed yesterday morning and the striker is ready for the new challenge.
After retaining the Player of the Year title last season for his third win after a first in 1997, Zialor, 33, could be called upon by Yugoslav coach Vojo Gardasevic to make his debut for the La Digue outfit away tomorrow when Anse Reunion meet Praslin-based LightStars in a decisive encounter.
The winners of tomorrow’s match will pin down a place in the top four of the Barclays league division one and qualify to play for the championship title with the start of the third round.
This is the second time Zialor has left St Michel after joining them for the first time in 1996 from the Sunshine team he led to the league title triumph in 1995.
In 2004 he joined the old St Louis side, with whom he had a two-year stint, but returned to base in 2006.
It is not clear for how many years former league and cup champions Anse Reunion have obtained the services of the Seychelles international striker.
All efforts by Sports Nation to get in touch with the player to find out why he has left the most successful local team in the club era were in vain.
Anse Reunion manager Michel Albert, who held the same post with St Michel for eight years before resigning in November 2005, could have played a major part in Zialor joining the team who aspire to become one of the best here.
Speaking to Sports Nation, Albert said Zialor will be a big asset for Anse Reunion, who are in the process of rebuilding.
“He will definitely give us a lot of options in attack,” said Albert.
“We already have three strikers around – Seychellois Yelvanny Rose and Malagasies Milison Niasere and Francisco Ramsy. But Zialor can play as a striker or an attacking midfielder. He’s a great player and will prove to be a big asset for us,” added Albert.
St Michel coach Ralph ‘Tiapout’ Jean-Louis said there had been speculation that Zialor would leave the team before the player approached him to talk about the move.
“We appreciate all that he has done for us,” said Jean-Louis.
“He has decided to move on and we can do nothing about it. I wish him all the best. As a team, St Michel have to regroup and it’s up to the players to make the most of the opportunity to fill Zialor’s boots,” he added.
G. G.