Launch of ‘Inspire to Aspire’ programme - Basketball pros add gloss to event |26 June 2017
Seychellois youth don’t have many role models locally and hence the need to have international dignitaries and professionals who have been successful in their lives through sports, culture and the arts share their journey with them.
Before an important crowd of mostly youngsters on Saturday at the Palais des Sports, Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Idith Alexander launched the ‘Inspire to Aspire’ programme ‒ an initiative of her ministry with the help of different partners.
Health Minister Jean-Paul Adam, youth and sports principal secretary Fabian Palmyre, culture principal secretary Benjamine Rose, special advisor for youth Kevin Vidot, special advisor for sports Jean Larue were also present.
French professional Kevin Séraphin, who plays for Indiana Pacers in the NBA (American professional league) was also in the house alongside our own professional Abdel Sylla who plays for Orléans Loiret Basket in the French Pro A and his teammates Antoine Mendy, Georgi Joseph and Souarata Cissé. His personal trainer, American Torrell Martin was also present and he entertained the house.
In her speech, Minister Alexander explained that when they come to Seychelles, the foreign stars share with the local youth their journey with the aim of inspiring them to forge a positive and fruitful future.
“Our ministry believes that this programme will contribute towards alleviating the ills in our society. This project will provide a new impetus for sports, cultural development, youth aspiration and social change. It will provide an avenue for our aspiring youth to understand that the way to success is through hard work and discipline. The presence and interaction with these stars and personalities will provide living proof and testimony. The knock on effect will be of immense benefits to our society,” said Minister Alexander.
The minister added that the success of the programme will depend on all the partners, starting in the family and all stakeholders. She also took the opportunity to thank Jeffrey Payet of the Bel Air Basketball Academy and Seychellois pro Abdel Sylla for their initiative to organise a one-week training with young people, coaches and basketball players of Seychelles.
“The ministry is putting in place a number of opportunities to ensure your personal development, so make the most of the opportunities which will help you achieve your dream because Seychelles needs every one of you,” Minister Alexander told the young people present before being presented with an Abdel Sylla jersey by the player himself.
Thanking all the professional stars present for the occasion, Minister Alexander said “you have made the first step in the long journey to ‘Inspire to Aspire’”.
Before inviting other individuals to join in this “noble gesture” in line with the national theme ‘Seselwa, en sel desten’, the minister thanked Air Seychelles, one of its key partners in this programme, Sainte Anne Resort & Spa and all the other sponsors who have contributed to the success of the event.
The ‘Inspire to Aspire’ logo was also unveiled during the event.
Seychellois professional basketballer Abdel Sylla told those present that “discipline is the key” and to “always believe in yourself as you never know who is watching you”.
Sylla, who moved to France at the tender age of 17 in November 2007 with Nancy after playing for local clubs Premium Cobras and Baya, said Seychellois youth are blessed with a lot of talents, and described the launch of the ‘Inspire to Aspire’ programme as a “historic moment”, before noting that through such an initiative “many young Seychellois will be inspired to do great things”.
“I wanted to play basketball at professional level since I was very young. I worked hard and believed in myself all along but did not know how it would happen. But somebody was watching me. Always take note of advice from elders,” said Abdel.
The 2.05m centre, who guided Seychelles men’s basketball team to win their first Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) gold medal in 2011 on home soil, added that he felt “blessed and happy” the programme has become a reality and glad to play a basketball match with and against friends of the NBA (American professional league), French pro league and Seychelles league.
Séraphin, who plays as centre with the Pacers, thanked Abdel for the “opportunity to be part of the project which has come true” and said he was “happy to be in the beautiful islands of Seychelles”.
The afternoon also saw an exhibition match between the foreign team and a local side assembled by coaches Guy Hall and Dominic Pillay. The visitors put on a show and won 108-66 and the scores read 23-14, 47-32 and 75-52 at the end of each of the first three quarters.
During their stay in Seychelles, the basketball stars also held clinics with young male and female players and organised motivational talks with players as well as the young residents of the President’s Home.
Young Seychellois basketballers were also invited to shoot and score from half court and two of them went away with an Abdel Sylla jersey signed by all the six pros.
At the end of the game, all present had the chance to talk to and take photos with the stars, but it is a pity that many local basketball players could not attend as there were matches at the same time at Victoria Gymnasium.
G. G.