Volleyball: Gala matches-Technical advisor Roche happy with what he saw |23 June 2008
It was a good opportunity for the former professional setter and coach of French ProB team
Playing in red and with a starting six of Yvonne Legaie, Esmée Toussaint, Annie Apassamy, Marielle Bonne, Nathalie Agnes and skipper Avrille Hoareau, coach Derrick Andrew’s team triumphed 3-1 (25-22, 25-13, 20-25, 25-21) after 79 minutes of play against the side playing in blue and captained by Jerina Bonne.
Skipper Jerina Bonne had for teammates Marie-Antoinette Quatre, Solana Domingue, Rona Dubignon, Viona Julie, Vanita Rose, Samantha Eugenie, Nathalie Domingue and Belira Jacqueline.
Although coach Marie-Ange Bouchereau juggled with her line-up, she could not get the win most probably because other than Jerina Bonne, the other players on her team lack international experience.
The other players on the team in red were Brigitte Rose, Agnella François and Flora Lesperance.
With Seychellois professionals Ian Furneau and Rodney Ah-kong playing alongside Tony Songor, Jean-Paul Agathe, Daniel Lozaique and Jerry Lozaique, the team in red looked much
Coach James Camille and the Reds ran away with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-14) victory in just over an hour of action.
Perry Sophola and Alvin Chysostome also starred for the team in red.
Known for his trademark strong attacks, skipper Vel got help from Kevin Roseline, Ryan Morel, Bernard Lucas, Jude Lepathy, Perrin Sophola, Ryan Bonté and Alison Alcindor.
Happy with what he saw, Frenchman Roche had this to say to Sports Nation:
“The two pre-selections are much younger and stronger than the teams who represented Seychelles at the Ninth All-Africa Games and the Seventh Indian Ocean Islands Games last year. Some female players were sidelined today (Friday) because of illness, while some male players decided not to play. It was encouraging to see the players play some very good volleyball. Now we have to train hard to get the desired results. Seychelles volleyball has a bright future but all will depend on whether the pre-selections can train as I want them to. My aim is to make Seychelles the number one volleyball nation in Africa and also qualify the teams for the 2012 Olympic Games.”
Asked if it was deliberate on his part not to field balanced teams, Roche replied: “Yes. I did so because, on one hand, I wanted to see if there was an understanding between the setter and the attackers, and, on the other hand, to see how players who are expected to play as substitutes react in difficult situations. I was really surprised with the reaction of some female players.”
G. G.