Football: Interview with new national team coach Ralph ‘Tiapout’ Jean-Louis-‘Goal achievable through hard work’ |07 January 2011

This is how Ralph ‘Tiapout’ Jean-Louis described his appointment as national team coach in a telephone conversation with Sports Nation yesterday.

“The Seychelles Football Federation has invested a lot in training of local coaches and it’s a good decision it has taken to give the national team coach job to a Seychellois. I’m thankful to the federation for believing in me and in my capabilities,” he added.

Asked about his objective with the team, ‘Tiapout’ replied: “Reaching the Indian Ocean Island Games final and making local fans proud with a win.”

‘Tiapout’ will run his first training session this coming Monday and he has at some point worked with all the players called to the pre-selection.

“All the players know and understand my work method, which is very simple. I give directions about the playing strategy and at the same time I let the players be creative on the field, but in a disciplined manner.

“We should all take our responsibilities during training and matches and I count on all the players to give their very best to achieve our goal. Without hard work, the goal is not achievable,” noted ‘Tiapout’, who has a lot of self-esteem as well as confidence in his players.

A former midfielder who started his career with Bel Air during the regionalisation era before moving to Anse Aux Pins and St Michel in 1993 with the reintroduction of club sports here, ‘Tiapout’ won two Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) bronze medals in 1990 (Madagascar) and 1998 (Reunion).

In 1993 – the year Seychelles hosted the Games for the first time – he scored the second goal after Robin Mousbé had given the country’s team, under German coach Helmut Kosmehl, the lead though they lost the third place play-off encounter 2-6 against Mauritius.
 ‘Tiapout’ is no different from any other coach and he wants his team to win games and competitions.

He’s done it with St Michel, making a clean sweep of all the titles in 2008 and winning many pieces of silverware during his five-year spell as coach with the Anse Aux Pins-based team from 2006 to 2010.

“Winning brings a special feeling. It’s all about the energy I bring into what I do. It’s also about good planning and making the most of the opportunities,” noted ‘Tiapout’, who only missed a Germany training camp through injury as a national team player in 11 years with the team – from 1990-2000.

Having already started pre-season training with St Michel, ‘Tiapout’ added that because he does not want to disrupt the team’s preparation to face Swaziland’s debutants Young Buffaloes in Africa’s premier club competition – the Champions League – he will keep his job until after the preliminary round.

He also thanked St Michel and Air Seychelles for understanding his wishes and for releasing him from his duties daily to work with the national team.

“I’m thankful to St Michel, Air Seychelles and the SFF to have come to an agreement so that I can work with the national team. It wasn’t easy, but through dialogue everything worked well,” he added.

The 42-year-old’s immediate task is to give the group an identity and to start win everything.

Wouldn’t it be nice to see Seychelles make the final mix, playing against one of the former gold medallists – Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion – in the big final and winning this year’s IOIG title?

G. G.