Interview with Young Male and Female Athletes of the Year Shane Mangroo and Alisen Camille-Camille and Mangroo share big aspirations |05 February 2010

Shane Mangroo and Alisen Camille have big aspirations for the future and they should be given the opportunities to live their dream.

Mangroo and Camille were crowned Young Male and Female Athletes of the Year last Friday during the 26th Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony, taking the baton from male badminton player Joel Dubel, who is on a five-year scholarship in China, and female volleyballer Marielle Bonne, who plays for professional team Volley-Ball Tulle Naves in the Nationale 1 league in France.

“I’m happy I’ve won the Young Female Athlete of the Year title after I performed so well in 2009,” said 17-year-old Camille.
Aware that she doesn’t stand a chance of retaining the title as she will be 18 this year, Camille is now eyeing the Sportswoman of the Year crown. But to do so she has to perform in the big league.

“I’m aware that competition is tough in the big league, but I’m not going to shy away.
“I’m looking forward to some tough competition and I know I can be a winner.

“My aim is to win the Sportswoman of the Year crown and I’m ready to work hard in training and play tough to achieve my goal,” she added.

Spoken of in the same breath as three-time African senior singles champion Ah-Wan, who was crowned Young Female Athlete of the Year three years in a row – 1997, 1998 and 1999 – shuttler Camille followed in her cousin’s footsteps by showing good form to earn victory in the singles event of the All-Africa Junior Badminton Champions in Ethiopia last year without dropping a set.

She also played on the team who won the silver medal at the All-Africa Senior Badminton Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.

Six years after his big brother Steven won the Young Male Athlete of the Year title for the first time in 2003, before getting a second win in 2005, Shane Mangroo has emulated his sibling.

 “I want to be a better swimmer than Steven and I feel I can surpass him by retaining the title,” said Mangroo, who hails from a family where swimming is the dominant sport.

“Seychelles’ swimming needs a new lease of life. The current crop of swimmers are aware of the task that lies ahead and are confident they can help shape a brighter future. We are training seriously with the hope of winning medals in international competitions we take part in,” added Mangroo.

The 16-year-old did not win medals in international meets in 2009, but reached eight finals at the eighth African Junior Championship in Mauritius. He also competed in the World Swimming Championship in Rome, Italy, and the XXI Meeting International in Reunion.

G.G