'Seychelles Nation's exclusive interview with manager Carl Payet' Friday December 1,  2000 "It's been a long wait and the Knockout title is a plus for us"
Nation: Thank you Mr. Payet for accepting this interview with us. A third place in the league and then a Homemakers' Cup win, how can you sum up your team's season?   Payet: I believe it was a rather satisfactory season since we lost some key players at the beginning of the year and had to recruit. I also believe that our two coaches and their assistant had a great job and the young players who joined us did not come with an established name but instead with the desire to play football. At the end, they have proved that they can play good football too and we, on the management side, are satisfied with a third place in the League though we could have done better. The Homemakers' Cup was a plus for us.     Nation: If you say the team could have done better, what was your target?   Payet: The League or at least the runners-up spot. By the third leg (in the League), we had a good ranking on the table and were collecting important points. But we then registered a few draws from teams we could have easily defeated. But that's the nature of football.     Nation: It is your first Knockout title and Sunshine are the first team beside St Michel and Red Star to win the competition, how do you rate your achievement?   Payet: We were the first team to win the League title upon the return of clubs here and now we're happy to add the knockout silverware to our collection. It's been a long wait but it had finally happened.     Nation: What happened during the long wait for success?   Payet: A lot of things. Maybe we could have gone down to the second division or even the third. Players have come and go. I would say that patience and perseverance are the key factors behind Sunshine's survival as a team and also as a contender in the first division.      Nation: Are you one to view the success as the "re-birth" of Sunshine?   Payet: When we put together our first group of players in 1995, we were expecting a title of some kind in 1997 but our success came earlier, that is the League title in 1995. The achievement set off a certain feeling of excitement in the players and some of them earned a name for themselves. I believe the aftermath affected us a great deal. If only the success had come in 1997, then we could have continued at the same level in 1998 and 1999.   Now, this Homemakers, Cup could be a "renaissance" of Sunshine, as our coach put it, or could spark off the same feeling as in 1995. My advice to our players is to play football and not let money get in the way. We've witnessed a lot of these cases this season where players with a lot of potentials haven't performed to the best of their ability simply because there were other things on their minds. Such attitude have cost their teams. I would remind our young players that when they joined our team, they did not have a "name" and we gave them our full confidence. Some of them were playing their first season in the top flight. To a lot of them, we were their big break in their football debut and I think it's up to them now to realise what they can do for us in return.     Nation: Sunshine is a young team, can you talk a bit about your young talents?   Payet: We've 11 young and raw talents in our squad. They've different characters and different abilities. If they're ready to listen to the coaches and willing to work together as a team and not small units, we've a future. But if	everyone sticks to his own principle and choose to differ at all times, it won't work for us.     Nation: Years ago you had skilful young players in your line-up in the ranks of Alpha Balde and Philip Zialor. These players then decided to leave, so what are being done to ensure that history does not repeat itself on this side?   Payet: At that time we were a little more reticent on giving incentives. We even offered the players who chose to leave a little more but we did it according to our funds. We felt we couldn't make promises then not deliver them. There are teams with more stable financial backing than us and can offer more to the players. That's the main reason why many players have moved on and it's not necessarily because they didn't like to play for Sunshine anymore.   However, I want to point out that everyone in the team, with no exception, gets an incentive at the end of the month.   This brings me to add that there are five players who started with us way back an are still with us now. They are Joliff Bibi, Brian Ravinia, Denis Sanders, Steve Sanders and Steve Hertel. These players believe money will not make them play better. Whenever they play, they do it with their hearts.     Nation: Could we see some more Sunshine players leaving next year to join more "expensive" teams?   Payet: Up till now, no one has approached me to discuss this issue but there are reports that some people are approaching certain players and taking them to their managers and offering them money. But I believe with our recent success, these players will stop to think about what they really want. Would a higher incentive  really make them happier where they are going? I may tell them to stay with but at the end of the day, the choice is theirs.    Nation: Leaving the season on a good note means you are going to enter the next season as a big name. What are your team's plans for next year, especially where the African Cup of Cup Winners is concerned?   Payet: The funny thing about football, especially in competitions like the African Cup of Cup Winners, is that you can be drawn against a big team who eliminate you at one go. On the other hand, if you're drawn with a match-able opponent, then there are chances that you progress to the first round and possibly the second. In other words, nothing is guaranteed.   Since our players are young and new to this level of competition, I believe they'll give their best and we, on the management side, will try to give them the necessary preparation.   For local competitions, I think we'll be looking to meet our opponents again next year.    Nation: Have you started any preparation for the African Cup of Cup Winners, taken in consideration that it's only two months away?   Payet: We took a break right after the Homemakers' Cup but we'll be meeting next week to talk over our African campaign and try to get everyone back in the groove.  We'll do some light things like playing volleyball or basketball or even go to the beach. We'll resume serious training right after the New Year celebrations.    Nation: Do Sunshine intend to recruit any players to bolster their line-up for the competition?   Payet: We're allowed to play with three foreign players, so we're including Guinean Bissiri in our side alongside Malagasy Christian and Rwandan Yves. We are looking into the possibilities of acquiring a few other players but we had little	time to go on the search since the deadline to submit the names to the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) was fast approaching. We've already sent the names since November 29 and the draw will take place on December 15. We would have wanted to include more players because we definitely need a stronger line-up. However, we're not going out for players already with an established name and who have known continuous success.   For next year, we need to reinforce our striking line and we also need a sweeper. But we don't want to recruit a lot of players since we're not in a position to provide for them all. It's quality that matters to us the most.    Nation: Do Sunshine have criteria for recruiting players?   payet: Not necessarily. We watch a lot of football and know the players who are a cut above the rest. But we go for players who are willing to listen to instructions and make sacrifices. If someone wants to play for us but is a smoker and drinker, then it's no use negotiating. We're totally against such practices    Nation: Do you have contracts for your players?   Payet: We used to in the past but lately we've decided to grant the players some liberty. Up till now, we haven't had any players who wanted to leave in the middle of a season. The sole exceptions were those who were on loan and had to return to their clubs or others who wanted to be loaned to the second division because they could not secure a place in the team.    Nation: Will Ulric "Keker" Mathiot be leaving your team again now that he has taken up the responsibilities as national team coach?   Payet: I would very much like to clarify this point since a lot of people don't understand it. "Keker" is the Football Development Officer but is for the time being filling in as national team coach. But this has nothing to do with his affiliation to Sunshine and nowhere is it written that he should not be directly involved with a club. After all, "Keker" is one of the founders of the club.    Nation: Is there anything you would like to add?   Payet: My first advice is for young coaches and managers. The moment they launch their careers they want success and thus start throwing money around on players. But this is not the way to do it. There is no short cut for success. Everyone should work hard, persevere and have patience. After all, you don't do something for the public but for yourself. It's the satisfaction you gain at the end of it all that counts.   I also have a message for the spectators. Whenever they come to watch a match, they should respect others who also pay their money. A stadium is not a place you come to insult others or use obscene language. Respect the players and referees. The referees are humans and can make mistakes like everyone else. It think everyone has a right to watch a match in peace, the players to play without being harassed and the referees to control a game without being at the receiving end of violent attacks. For the sake of the development of our football, let us be fair to others.   I also wish all teams the best in 2001 and take the opportunity to thank all sponsors and individuals who have helped Sunshine in any way during this season. I thank all my players for their service and wish them a Merry Christmas. We look forward to working with them again next year.    Nation: Thank you and all the best for next year. Interview by Lena Hoareau

Archive photographs supplied by The Club President. ©Copyright courtesy of Sunshine F.C, MGT 'Mike Godfrey Tirant', Sunshine Cars, Mr.John Carl Payet 'Club President'.