Football: 2008 season-Dorasamy a big influence in our challenge for all the titles – coach Mathiot |14 January 2008
It was probably a tough decision for Dorasamy to make as his former team St Michel had achieved the League and Cup double last year after a 10-year wait since their first double triumph in 1997.
Although Dorasamy himself has decided not to give any interviews for now, preferring to concentrate on his new job, coach Mathiot believes that his arrival is a bonus to the team.
“Bernard brings with him a lot of experience as a player and a coach. In just one week of training, he has been doing the trick and I hope he continues doing it. His presence on the coaching staff will surely help, especially in attack as he will transfer his attacking ideas to the young players. I have no doubt about his abilities. Remember, we suffered a lot in the attacking department last year although we created a lot of goal-scoring opportunities,” said coach Mathiot.
It is to note that St Louis Suns United scored 31 goals, the second-highest total after champions St Michel’s 36, and conceded 18 goals – the fourth team with the best defence behind St Michel (13 goals conceded), SMB (16 goals conceded) and Anse Réunion (17 goals conceded).
“We will challenge for all the titles”
Airtel Cup losing finalists to Anse Réunion, third in the Barclays League division one behind champions St Michel and runners-up SMB and losers to St Michel in the quarterfinal stage of the Land Marine Cup last year, St Louis Suns United, who came into existence in 2007 with the fusion of the St Louis and Sunshine teams, are aiming for better fortunes this season.
“We will once again challenge for all the titles and I believe we have the team to make the drive to the titles. This is another reason why we wanted to get Bernard (Dorasamy) on board. He will join Danny (Laurette) and I on the coaching staff and I’m sure he will do his best to help the team win. We came close to winning the Airtel Cup and the League championship last season, but lost both competitions because of errors related to inexperience on the part of the players. We want to go the distance this year. The players are determined and have been training hard since the first session on Monday (January 7).
It’s a good sign and I hope they will build on the experience they gathered last year,” noted coach Mathiot.
Alpha Baldé and Ralid out, Hoareau and Adrienne in
Boasting a young team with an average age of 23, coach Mathiot believes that the 2008 season will be a good one for St Louis Suns United who have recruited just two players.
They are young winger Ahmed Adrienne who played for SMB last year ad defender Ronny Hoareau from Northern Dynamo. Seychelles international Hoareau has been loaned to St Louis Suns United for one season after Glacis-based Northern Dynamo lost their place in the top flight which has been trimmed to just eight teams.
The team have also promoted three players – Harold David, Damien Maria and Alex Alcindor - from the youth side to the senior team.
Among the players who are leaving the team are skillful and crowd-pleaser Alpha Baldé, Robert Suzette, Malagasy defender Ralid and Ugandan Mathias Kisitu.
According to St Louis Suns United team secretary Terrence Tirant, both Baldé and Suzette have expressed the wish to leave the team and Sports Nation have learned that they will likely join last year’s Barclays League division two champions Plaisance who have been promoted to the top flight.
As for Ralid, he is expected back in the country soon and will meet the St Louis Suns United management to decide his future and which team he will join.
Club secretary Tirant said that Ralid’s exit has been possible through a mutual agreement between both parties as the team felt it was best to invest in a foreign player in a department where it lacked quality players. It is not clear with whom the 36-year-old former Malagasy international defender, who joined the old St Louis in 1996, will play when he returns from holiday.
As for Congolese striker Jonathan Mbanze, he will be back to lead the St Louis Suns United attack, bringing in much-needed firepower upfront.
Secretary Tirant added that the team could recruit another foreign player in the future but all will depend on how the team, captained by Seychelles’ midfielder Denis Barbé, perform early in the season.
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Coaching staff: Marc Mathiot (head coach), Bernard Dorasamy and Danny Laurette (assistant coaches)
Players in: Winger Ahmed Adrienne (SMB) and defender Ronny Hoareau (on loan from Northern Dynamo)
Players out: Alpha Baldé, Robert Suzette, Malagasy defender Ralid and Ugandan striker Mathia Kisitu
Young players promoted to the senior side: Harold David, Damien Maria and Alex Alcindor
G. G.