Fifa Talent Development Scheme (TDS) |24 June 2025

Part of the delegation shortly after arriving in France (Photo: Contributed)

Fifa Talent Development Scheme (TDS)

Young talents on training camp in France

A contingent of some 50 talented young Seychellois male footballers taking part in the Fifa Talent Development Scheme are currently in Marseille, France on a five-week intensive training programme.

In fact, this is the largest delegation ever to take part in this Talent Development Scheme (TDS) training camp since the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) made the strategic decision to invest in young Seychellois talents by joining this Fifa programme three years ago.

This programme is a collaboration between the federation and the parents of the talented youngsters who have passed stringent skills and aptitude tests carried out by the SFF’s technical department. While most of the cost is borne by the SFF, parents also willingly contribute in this demarche to give their children international exposure for overall self-development which could also eventually lead to a professional football career.

The last part of the group of the 50 under-13 and under-17 players were seen off by elated parents, family and friends at the Seychelles International Airport on Friday June 20 in the presence of Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) vice-president Dolor Ernesta.

The SFF officially joined the TDS programme in 2022 when, after receiving approval from the executive committee, it made the strategic choice to invest in young talents with the aim of building a more competitive generation of footballers to compete at regional, continental and international levels.

The first such training camp was held last year. Although the TDS programme is still in its infancy here, it has already started to bear fruits. At the Fifa Indian Ocean Youth Football Festival in Madagascar in December last year, Seychelles scored a rare victory against the hosts and beat the Comoros in the boys’ category. Although they are yet to form part of the TDS programme, the girls also won against Comoros in this festival.

Until 2023, the TDS programme involved the boys U17 category only. However, during the workshop for technical directors held in Madagascar on the sidelines of the festival, a decision was taken to open the programme to other age categories.

For the TDS to be successful, there must be a strong grassroot structure from where players demonstrating potential to develop a high level of technical and tactical skills are spotted, absorbed and nurtured by clubs as part of their youth development programme.

Interclub competitions for the different age groups allow the talents to grow and flourish, to be absorbed by the TDS following a rigorous and transparent selection process. Integrating the U13s into the TDS therefore makes it possible to maintain players’ progress, ensure continuity and avoid dropout.

This year’s five-week training camp in France involves 23 under-13 and 27 under-17 players accompanied by eight technical staff including management, medical and safeguarding officers.

It is the highlight of the training programme offering international exposure and real-life experience for the young players in a foreign competitive environment that is not available in Seychelles.

While in France the under 17s will have the opportunity to face two French National 2 teams – Istres FC and Rousset FC – who are a level higher than our local championship in this category. This French semi-professional division provides a platform for professional clubs to scout for young talents.

This TDS programme is expected to be a boost for the under-17 national team who will be taking part in the 13th Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien (CJSOI) Games to be held in Seychelles in August.

Fresh from the training camp and armed with improved skills, discipline, experience and tactics gained from playing against high-level foreign opponents, it is expected that the players will form the backbone of the Seychelles CJSOI team, giving the country its best chance of putting up a creditable performance.

The SFF has meanwhile thanked everyone who understands and supports its youth programme, particularly the parents who have made a lot of efforts to invest in the welfare and overall development of their children.

A special thank you also goes to the Ministry of Education and the different schools who have agreed to release the students for the training camp as well as the Ministry of Health for providing medical support.

The SFF’s appreciation also goes to those companies and individuals who have helped some of the parents with their investment through sponsorship.

With the support of everyone concerned, the SFF’s youth development programme is set to usher in a new era for Seychellois football, especially now that Fifa is putting a lot of concentration on this sector with the introduction of several new age group competitions, including an annual Under-17 World Cup.

Contributed