Football: Kevin Betsy retires |08 May 2015

Seychelles first-ever Premier League footballer Kevin Betsy has decided to put an end to his playing career and has given a well-deserved send-off in his final home game for current club Woking.

In a career that has spanned almost 20 years, Betsy was given an emotional send-off after setting up the injury-time winner against Halifax Town in his final home game for the side with whom he started his career. He made 207 appearances for Woking who won the match 3-2.

Halifax Town players lined up the field in a guard of honour as Betsy walked on to the pitch before kick-off, while current Woking boss Garry Hill led the tributes for their hero.

“What a fitting tribute and a farewell to a great pro and a great lad,” said Hill after the match.

“You could not have planned it any better,” he continued, “Kevin started off at Woking and went on to make many football league appearances at the top level and then came back to play at Woking. It was a fitting end to a wonderful season and career of Kevin Betsy.”

In a recent interview, Betsy said on his decision to retire: “I decided to announce this time as I did not want anyone to change my mind. The knee injury in the summer resulted in the first operation of my career and this has really affected me.”

He added: “I’ve been nowhere near my individual level this season and despite my contribution to the team performing well, you have to know when the time has come to say ‘thanks and goodnight’.”

The 37-year-old attacking midfielder has made 25 league appearances for Woking this season, scoring two goals for the club where he is seen as a local hero by the fans.

He started his highly successful career at Woking, graduating from the academy to make some 60 appearances before signing for Kevin Keegan’s Championship side Fulham for a reported £150,000 in September 1998. Fulham went on to win promotion to the Premier League and he made his debut for the Cottagers at the top level at Anfield in a League Cup tie and went on to make 15 first-team appearances, while also having loan spells at Bournemouth, Hull City and Barnsley.

 He signed for Wycombe Wanderers for £200,000 in 2002 and made over 90 starts.

His subsequent league career saw him play for Hartlepool United, Oldham Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers, Bristol City, Yeovil (loan), Walsall (loan) and Southend before a second spell at Wycombe which ended by mutual consent in December 2011. He was a key part of promotion-winning sides at Bristol City and Wycombe.

Betsy was finally called into the Seychelles national squad and made his international debut against a visiting French league side US Quevilly on June 3, 2011, scoring twice in a 3-0 friendly victory. He was part of the Seychelles squad for the 2011 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) which the country hosted and he scored the equaliser in the final against Mauritius, a match which Seychelles won after a penalty shootout, to capture the elusive gold medal.

Asked to recall his debut day as a promising, pacey and skilful 19-year old footballer – his lean, athletic physique not dissimilar to the figure he cuts today – Betsy explained: “The squad was going to Wembley the following week in the trophy final, so Geoff (Chapple) brought in some promising young players for the game against Northwich and that was my first taste of putting on the halves and it was a great experience.”

Betsy has twice been named player of the season for Woking, the latest during the 2013/2014 season. He has represented 12 clubs in his career and scored 78 goals in 591 league appearances.

He is currently working with the Fulham youth development department and has already got his coaching badges. He has said he intends for coaching to be the next step in his professional life.

The talented midfielder’s playing ability will surely be a great miss for Seychelles football especially with the 2015 IOIG coming up, but with his vast experience and through the Kevin Betsy Foundation, he has paved the way for many young aspiring professionals in Seychelles.

Today we say farewell and wish all the best one of Seychelles’ heroes as he embarks on a new journey, which we hope could potentially land him back on our shores.

Good luck Kevin Betsy!

Compiled by S. N.