SWEDISH Cup champions IF Elfsborg, who are to meet local side St Louis in their first match of the ongoing Triangular tournament at Stad Linite tomorrow, are here and brimming with confidence.

Only hours after stepping foot on the Seychelles soil, the Swedes were at Stad Linite for a morning workout and Sports Nation caught up with them.

According to coach Magnus Haglund, his players are ready to face their opponents.

"We don't actually know much about Seychellois football but I have urged my players to 

give their maximum in the two matches we are to play. We are grateful to be in Seychelles and I feel that the Triangular tournament will serve as a great preparation for us ahead of the qualifying rounds of the 2004/2005 UEFA Cup scheduled for August," he said, adding that he was optimistic about his team's chances in the competition.

"I am optimistic that all the players will give a good account of themselves during the two coming matches. After winning the Cup we haven't stop training and again I feel that our trip to Seychelles will be of great significance towards our  UEFA Cup qualification campaign and the domestic league which is expected to start in mid-April," he added.

The 39-year-old coach noted that from what he had gathered, St Michel and St Louis were two good sides and had urged his players not to underestimate their opponents.

Five-time League champions IF Elfsborg won the Swedish Cup with a 2-0 win over second divisioners Assyriska Föreningen in last year's final.

The visitors will play their farewell match on Saturday against local League champions St Michel, 3-0 victors of St Louis last Saturday at Stad Linite in the first match of the competition.

For his part, Lennart Swenson, the Honorary Consul for Seychelles in Sweden who is also the head of delegation, said that so far his colleagues were enjoying their stay here and were looking forward for their matches against St Louis and St Michel.

"We arrived early this morning (Monday) and so far everything is going fine and we are enjoying our stay, " he said

Swenson explained that he was contacted by the Seychelles Football Federation in October last year to find a good Swedish first division team to come and play against Seychelles' representatives in the forthcoming African club competitions.

He thus persuaded newly-crowned Cup champions IF Elfsborg to come to Seychelles.

Mr Swenson has also noted that the football governing bodies of Seychelles and Sweden are enjoying a healthy working relationship.

After IF Elfsborg, reigning European female club championship winners, Umea IK of Sweden, are expected here in February for some friendly matches against our national selection.  

It is to note that the aim of the Triangular tournament is to offer test matches for St Louis and St Michel prior to participating in African club competitions and raise fund in order to assist them.

St Michel are to play Eco Redipharm Toamasina of Madagascar in the preliminary round of the African Champions' League, while St Louis are to meet Leopards Transfoot also of Madagascar in the preliminary round of the inaugural edition of Confederation of African Football (Caf) Cup.

C. J.