THE Seychelles under-21 team participating in the Mombassa Open Tournament in Kenya have made a winning start with victory in their first match on Saturday January 10.

The team, under the guidance of seasoned players Brian Camille (head coach) and George Sicobo (assistant coach), won their first match against Mombassa Sports Club on a 2-0 score.

Jonathan Richards gave the Seychelles team the lead in the 15th minute before Franky Naiken doubled their advantage in the 55th minute.

The team, captained by Danny D'Souza, had warmed up for the six-day competition (from January 10 to 15) with a 1-0 win over the Mombassa Sports Club senior side in a friendly last Friday. Jerry Furneau got the winner.

It is to note that the competition, reserved for under 21-year-olds, is seen as a stepping stone for the Seychelles team with players aged between 15 and 18 years.

Before leaving the country last week for Kenya, Seychelles Hockey Federation chairman Raymond D'Souza, gold medallist with the Kenyan national team at the Fourth All-Africa Games in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1987, and at the African Junior Championship in Zimbabwe in 1980, had said that he expected the team to give a good performance in Mombassa.

The 14 players chosen to represent Seychelles in the Mombassa Open Tournament are Danny D'Souza (captain), Ervell Barra (vice-captain), Daniel Jeannevol, Adam Richards, Andrew Charles, Jonathan Richards, Michael Léon, Franky Naiken, Jerry Furneau, Benjamin Doway, Jan Mohamed, Michel Japhet, Ashley Mussard and Alex Freminot.

It is also worth noting that the last time a Seychelles national side took part in an international competition – the African Championship – was in 1993.

G. G.