UP CLOSE ... with Henry Gamatis, manager of The Lions Football Club |14 November 2017

‘There are lions in Seychelles – and that’s us!’

When asked why the name ‘The Lions’ for a local football team, as such animal does not exist in Seychelles, manager Henry Gamatis says they consider themselves the lions because ever since the team’s formation in the year 2000, they have aimed to reach the game’s First Division. And the fact they have achieved this feat was due to the team’s strength and determination – just like the lions.

“The Lions football club (FC) is already achieving a lot. With limited resources we have managed to keep the team among the elite in local football. Many teams have come and gone. It is very difficult to support a football team. Just keeping the team going is a major achievement for all those involved in its up-keeping -- from sponsors, the president of the club, the management, coaching staff, the players and supporters. Despite all the difficulties encountered along the way, our first dream is to keep the team on the right track, hence keeping ‘The Lions’ alive. And only through that can we realise the other dream – that of winning a major trophy,” says Henry, who is the manager, coach and chairman of The Lions FC. Henry lives at St Louis and is Transport Supervisor at the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). He is single but has two children. He also has five brothers. Even if he has a hectic and busy schedule, Henry loves football, in fact he loves sports a lot, hence his determination to continue managing ‘The Lions’. He talks to Up Close about it.

Early days

The Lions FC was established in 2000 by the current leader of government business in the National Assembly, Charles de Commarmond, Franky Mondon and Jean-Marc Benstrong.

From 2000-01 the team played in the Central league and was coached by Jean-Marc. In 2002 it was promoted to Division Three and one season later it moved up to Division Two. Going from strength to strength, the team reached the top division in 2004, only to find itself back in Division Two for the ensuing five years.

In 2010, the team had another taste of First Division football but this was short-lived as it fell into the Second Division for the following two years (2011-2012).

With a new coach in 2012, in the form of Gavin Jeanne, the team’s fortunes changed for the better as it managed to get back its First Division status in 2013 after clinching a double – league and cup – in the Second Division.

Up till now it is still rubbing shoulders with teams in the top flight and still under coach Gavin.

The Lions FC is currently ranked sixth in the First Division Football League, with three matches left to play.

The Lions is based at Cascade but trains on the Plaisance secondary school playing field. Players come from different districts like Cascade itself, Anse aux Pins, Roche Caïman, Glacis, St Louis and Plaisance.

Why the name ‘The Lions’?

“The name ‘The Lions’ showcases the aggressiveness of the players and the determination to be promoted to the First Division when the team was set up,” says Henry.

‘The Lions’ strategy

Henry says The Lions’ strategy is to maintain its First Division status.

“Give opportunities to young talented players who are not getting them from their respective football clubs. As we find it difficult to attract top players, we provide playing opportunities to players sitting on the bench of bigger clubs. Examples of such players are Geno Agathine, Romial Oreddy, Jerome Dingwall, Colin Bibi (even if he left for St Louis last year), Darrel Lesperance and Yannick Charlette. The Lions provided those players a platform to showcase their ability and some have even made it to the national team,” Henry says.

The team now has four foreign players -- Mohamed Varney from Liberia and Chinah, Clariel and Ianto from Madagascar.

Coach Gavin Jeanne

Coach Gavin joined The Lions FC just after it was relegated from the first division and his first objective was to take the team back to the top.

“Upon its relegation, most players left to join teams in the first division – in the likes of Jones Joubert, Dean Suzette and others. The team was rebuilt from players of the Under 18 Seychelles Football Federation squad like Rashim Padayachy, Dennis Auguste, Raphael Moustache, Ahmed Maurice, Laurent Vel and Andrew Onezia. At that time they were still very young but now six of them have made their debut in the national team,” says Gavin.

He also notes that the team got promoted the same year, coming out unbeaten in the second division and winning that division’s cup against Au Cap.

“Two new objectives were set upon promotion – keep the top division status and challenge the SFF Cup competition. Now five years in the first division, we have played three SFF Cup semi-finals even though we lost all,” he says.

Challenges

ManagerHenrysays the team’s main challenge is keeping its topplayers.

“Oncethe bigger clubs spot the talent of players, they snatch them up and we have to start all over again. Another challenge is to attract top players from more prominent clubs so as to win trophies but I must say our strategy is working quite well. We also have a small fan base which is not enough to ‘push’ the team especially in difficult circumstances,” says Henry.

Players

Henry says they have a fantastic group of players but like all clubs they encounter certain problems with them such as inconsistency.

“They look forward to play against big teams but not motivated enough to play against supposedly smaller teams,” notes Henry.

Regarding lack of players from the Cascade district, Henry says as Cascade does not have a secondary school, as a result they tend to join St John Bosco and other first division teams in the region.

Personal view on football in Seychelles

“Football in Seychelles is on the decline. I am not saying that players are not as good as they were before – they are as good technically and tactically. But it is rather about the participation of younger players. I am worried about the future of the sport. We need to put resources in the development of football by bringing in more children into the game. Not only football but other sports as well. Another thing that is rearing its ugly head in football is bribery of players and even clubs. We do not have any proof but just hearing about it and the possibility worries me. We hope we do not tarnish or destroy our game. It is hard to set up a youth team under 18 or 20. Something needs to be dome starting from schools. Physical education in secondary schools is not working. Maybe we need to change the strategy,” says Henry.

Special message to footballers and sportsmen

“Let us use football to unite this world. Take your sport seriously if you want to succeed and become a professional player one day. Let football unite us as one nation.”

By Marylene Julie