Football - St Michel win record 14th President’s Cup |07 March 2016
Reigning Barclays league division one champions St Michel narrowly defeated Airtel Cup winners LightStars 2-1 in the opening match of the 2016 season at Stad Linite on Saturday afternoon to set a record of 14 President’s Cup triumphs.
This match attracted a decent crowd including President James Michel who is also the patron of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF); Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton; principal secretary for community development and sports Denis Rose; National Sports Council chief executive Giovanna Rousseau; senior officials of the SFF led by its chairman Elvis Chetty; as well as the faithful football supporters.
St Michel gave a debut to their new recruit Basil Bertin who joined them from Northern Dynamo though they were without footballer of the year Carl Hall who was in the stands to watch this match as he got injured in national team training on Monday.
However, it was the Praslin outfit who made a brighter start as Bertrand Lablache wrestled past St Michel captain Allen Larue in only the second minute and was brought down on the edge of the penalty area to give away a free kick in a dangerous position but Renick Esther drove the ball into the St Michel wall to waste a good chance.
In the 18th minute, Malagasy Mario Ravo latched on to a long ball as he sneaked in behind captain Larue though he looked suspiciously offside which was not signalled to allow him to bore on goal and it required a good block by goalkeeper Gino Melanie to deny him grabbing the opener.
LightStars were lucky in the 21st minute when their captain, Malagasy Noelson Jeannot scythed down Trevor Poiret with a crude tackle in the middle of the pitch and he was not even booked.
In the 26th minute, St Michel’s Yannick Manou played a short back pass to goalkeeper Melanie which Ravo pounced on but the St Michel custodian just managed to tackle him and force a corner to save his colleague’s blushes.
Manou almost made amends for his error two minutes later when he rose high to head captain Larue’s teasing cross but goalkeeper Romeo Barra saved well.
Goalkeeper Barra was again alert to smother Gervais Waye-Hive’s left foot shot in the 32nd minute but a minute later Poiret had to leave the pitch as a result of the rash tackle sustained earlier and Kenner Nourrice slotted into his place on the right of midfield.
Nourrice proved a useful replacement when he helped his team break the stalemate in the 41st minute as he won the ball from Fabio Lemiel to feed Malagasy Jocelyn who in turn set up Waye-Hive who rifled at goal and goalkeeper Barra who had the ball covered, allowed it to roll through his fingers and into the net to make it 1-0 as the St Michel camp celebrated the windfall to lead at half-time.
St Michel increased their advantage in the opening minute after the restart as Nourrice darted into the LightStars penalty area and flashed a cross across the face of goal and Waye-Hive connected at the far post to blast his shot into the net to complete his brace for a 2-0 lead.
LightStars though reduced the arrears in the 50th minute after an injection of pace by Lablache to outsprint captain Larue and his cutback was rammed home by Ravo for a 1-2 score.
Surprisingly, LightStars failed to trouble St Michel despite bringing on Malagasy Paul Bruyelle and Francis Louise for Malagasy Jacquelin and Ian Vel on the hour mark as St Michel kept them at bay.
St Michel though had chances such as in the 56th minute when Leeroy Corallie turned well to shoot at goalkeeper Barra who could only parry the ball.
In the 87th minute, St Michel went mighty close from a Jocelyn in-swinging free kick which was met by substitute Neil Confiance who had come on for Waye-Hive but the ball came off the crossbar as LighStars rode their luck.
As the minutes ticked away, the LightStars’ players grew very frustrated with referee Egbert Havelock as they felt hard done by some of his decisions and at the final whistle, they rounded him to make their feelings known and even their coach James Barra was furious with the officials and was not willing to collect their loser’s medal as some players also refused to go up for the presentation which showed a lack of sportsmanship and fair play.
As for St Michel, they had created history by winning for a record 14th time the President’s Cup to add to their glorious achievement in local football and it was captain Allen Larue who received this huge trophy from President Michel as they rejoiced in another cup success to kick off the season on a bright note.
WHAT THEY SAID AFTER THE MATCH:
St Michel manager Andrew Jean-Louis: “We had a slight domination in the first period after a slow start as we almost gifted a goal similar to the Caf Champions League match with St Georges due to being too casual at the back. But our opponents also gifted us the opening goal. As for the second half, we came out with all guns blazing and grabbed a second goal though our opponents got a goal. We were in control and played a better passing game though we needed a third goal but our opponents seemed to run out of steam and did not worry us. I would like to congratulate my players on another cup win to make a good start to the season.”
LightStars’ captain Noelson Jeannot: “We put in a satisfactory performance but the referee was not up to the level and affected morale in our camp with his decisions. We felt he spoilt the game as his judgement was questionable and we are not happy with his performance.”
SFF chairman Elvis Chetty: “It was a good start to the season as both teams were very competitive and gave their best and I would like to congratulate them to treat us to a good game.”
R. J-L.