Handball: African Zone V11 IHF tournament. |02 September 2016

Seychelles looking for continental qualification

The Seychelles Handball Federation men’s under 20 and the women’s under 19 national teams will be taking part in the International Handball Federation (IHF) Challenge Trophy Tournament Zone V11, Africa, to be held in Mauritius from September 4 to September 7.

The winners of each category will represent the region in the continental zones championship to be held in a country to be decided later.

The twenty-eight players (14 in each team) along with eight officials, received their travel documents on Wednesday afternoon in a small ceremony at the Palais des Sport.

The plane tickets were presented by the SHF treasurer Marie-Claire Damou in the presence of the SHF chairman Norbert Dogley, parents and other members of the federation.

The thirty-six member delegation will leave tomorrow morning and will return on September 8.

The four-day challenge Trophy Tournament will be played in the Phoenix Gymnasium in Phoenix.

The Seychelles delegation will be staying at the Sikamifer Hotel in Quatre Bornes. The plane tickets and accommodation in Mauritius have been fully sponsored by the IHF, who is also the main sponsor of the tournament.

The African Zone seven comprises four countries – Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar and the Comoros.

The tournament is held every two years and Mauritius will be hosting it for the third time since it was introduced in 2010.

In 2014 in Mauritius, the Seychelles women’s team won the silver medal after losing to Madagascar in the final.

The men’s team finished in fourth position.

In this year’s challenge trophy, Seychelles women’s team will play Madagascar in the first game on Sunday 4 at 4pm local time and the men will play their first game against Mauritius on Monday 5 at 6pm local time.

Chairman Dogley, who will head the delegation in Mauritius, told Sports NATION that only three countries – Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar – will take part in the tournament as he understood that the Comoros have been banned by the International Olympic Committee to take part in the competition.

“Even though a medal is guaranteed as there will be only three teams, we are aiming to do better than in 2014. The girls have a silver medal to defend but with the quality of players in the boy’s team, I expect the team to shine in this tournament. My hope is very high on them,” said Mr Dogley.

The men’s team comprises mostly players who took part in the competition in Mauritius in 2014 with three new players coming from the team that took part in the CJSOI Games held in Madagascar last August.

The women’s team includes mostly new young players with only two players that formed part of the team that took part in the tournament in 2014.

Both the women and the men’s team have been in preparation since six month ago with intensive training three times a week for the past four months under the guidance of coaches Natalie Samynadin and Danny Philoe. But as he is due to leave for overseas studies soon, coach Samynadin has been replaced by Jacqueline Bastienne as head coach.

Coach Danny Philoe expects his team to reach the final. “The men’s team looks stronger than the women’s team this time and we will do better than the fourth position we did two years ago. I am confident we will reach the final,” said a determined Philoe.

Coach Jacqueline Bastienne said her team could defend their silver medal only if her players adapt and coordinate well with each other.

“Some players missed training during the school holidays and the team lacks coordination during plays but I think they will be able to do something,” said coach Bastienne.

Finishing fourth in the last competition, Captain Handrix Simeon, who is making his fourth appearance in such tournament, said his team will fight hard for the gold medal, saying: “We want to improve on the bronze medal we won in the second tournament. We are all very focused and working together as a team. Everybody turned up for training and I think we can do it.”

The defending silver medallist captain of the women’s team, Alanah Henry, thinks that it will not be that easy to defend their silver medal as players are still trying to adapt to one another.

“Some new players joined the team late in training and we are trying to understand the capacity of each other but we are trying hard to mingle things together. I know that Mauritius will be all out to beat us because we beat them to second place last year but we will see how things go during the competition,” added captain Henry.

During the competition, there will be a meeting for all Handball Federation chairmen in the region, where an election will also be held to choose a president to represent zone seven on the continental level.

According to chairman Dogley, the zone seven have been without a president for the last three years since the last representative from Madagascar.

“I have been asked to put present myself as a candidate for the post zone president by the other handball federations in the region. I have not made up my mind yet but I will see when I get there,” said chairman Dogley.

“Seychelles was supposed to organise this 2016 challenge tournament but due to lack of a games village as recommended by the IHF, to cater for a large delegation of around two hundred plus, we opted not to organise the tournament,” he also said.

Chairman Dogley thanked the IHF for the sponsorship and also thanked the National Sports Council and Cable & Wireless for their support.

Besides chairman Dogley as head of delegation, the other members making the trip are team manager Bernard Valentin, referees Neil Esparon and Curtis Esther.

The players are:

Women’s team: Alanah Henry (captain), Vicky Nicette, Kursha Loizeau, Marielle Corgat, June Barra, Lisa Memee, Rogenta Gonthier, Aruna Sifflore, Rania Jean, Nacellie James, Chelsea Joubert, Shylla Joubert, Rebecca Betsy, Esthel Dido.

Head coach is Jacqueline Bastienne assisted by Rita Toussaint and technical advisor is Danny Philoe.

Men’s team: Handrick Simeon (captain), Shawn Hertel, Dyan Azemia, Kenny Joseph, Perry Sinon, Alphius Fanchette, Donovan Corgat, Kieran Jean, Kieran Durene, Freddy Chang-Sam, Laphonso Joubert, Aaron Dodin, Joshua Juliette, Yannick Laira.

Head coach Danny Philoe, assisted by Freddy Anette.

P.J.