Sports Awards of the Year 2017 crowning ceremony |23 January 2018

Lissa Labiche, Dylan Sicobo crowned the best

Every year, top athletes from the various sports federations and associations who have performed well, are rewarded. It was the case once again on Friday night as the best performers for 2017 received their prizes in the customary Sports Awards ceremony held once again at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay resort.

It was a double for athletics as sprinter Dylan Sicobo and high jumper Lissa Labiche were crowned Sportsman and Sportswoman for 2017. It was under the applause of the audience that Sicobo received the decorated traditional main cup from President Danny Faure. Labiche’s mother Geralda Charlette picked up the prize on her behalf as she is currently training in the United States of America.

It is Labiche’s third Sportswoman of the Year title after previously winning in 2012 and 2015 while Sicobo got his first taste of the title.

Sicobo’s best performance was winning the 100m gold medal in 10.33 seconds at the Jeux de la Francophonie in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and Labiche also won the women’s high jump gold medal with a bar of 1.91m.

As prizes, the two athletes each won the main cup, a cheque for R25,000, a trophy, certificate, an Air Seychelles ticket to any regional destination, R5,000 insurance voucher from Sacos.

Cyclist Stephen Belle and karateka Sophie Perolari were crowned Young Male and Young Female Athlete of the Year 2017. They each received a cheque for R7,000, a trophy and a certificate.

All the other best athletes chosen as the best in their sports received a trophy, a certificate and R5,000 as prizes.

Also present among the athletes and officials were Vice-President Vincent Meriton, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, Youth Sports and Culture Minister Mitcy Larue, members of the National Assembly and of the diplomatic corps, other government officials, representatives of sponsors and sports bodies and other invited guests.  

In her speech for the occasion, Minister Larue said 2018 will be an exciting year for Seychelles’ sports.  Seychelles will host the Eco-friendly marathon in February followed by the first ever Fina Open Water world series in May at Beau Vallon.

A delegation of athletes will also be competing in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, in April. Apart from competing in the Zwe Lespwar locally, the young athletes will take part in the Jeux de la CJSOI (Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien) in Djibouti, the Africa Youth Games in Algeria and in the Olympic Youth Games in Argentina. The CAVB zone 7 Indian Ocean Club Championship (IOCC) for volleyball also be held in Seychelles in March.

“I am therefore making an appeal to all athletes representing Seychelles to be good ambassadors and to make our country proud as your country is proud of you all,” said Minister Larue who also congratulated the athletes for their very good performance in 2017 and encouraged them along with other athletes not included in the crowning ceremony, to work harder in 2018.

Minister Larue also congratulated and thanked the various sports federations and associations, the government, officials, sponsors and parents for their efforts in ensuring the continued development of sports in Seychelles, especially at international level.

During the ceremony, other prizes were awarded to other best performers for 2017. And the winners were: best primary school - Plaisance, best secondary - Plaisance, best post-secondary institution -Seychelles Business Studies Academy (SBSA), coach of the year - James Faure (karate), technical official of the year - James Emile (football) and federation of the year - Seychelles Athletics Federation.

Apart from video presentations on sports highlights for the year 2017 and the best athletes’ performances, the guests were entertained with a kata demonstration by the Northern Tang Soo Do karate club, while Ashley Barallon performed Moment in Time and local artist KJ sang his hit song Lavi Satini.

P. J.