Much missed: Elvis Dias in younger days
14th March 2024
By Lewis BetsyThis is such a sad time as I have lost another dear friend, Elvis Dias.He died four days after his 66th birthday and with family and friends, I attended his funeral at Our Lady of the Vi... more...
By Lewis Betsy  The scandal of what is happening with the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission is an outrageous insult to the people of Seychelles. In his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ramkalawan referred to the TRNUC, but he never offered anything serious or concrete concerning what would happen to the victims. I had previously warned that the Commission looked doomed to fail.  Yet it must not fail. The Government must not let the victims down. The truth is that the TRNUC has become a joke for the LDS Government. They are playing politics with it and applying a delaying tactics strategy with the victims.  The time has come to say enough is enough. My case number is No 2 and I am sure by now the Government must have had an idea where mine and all the many other cases were heading. It is not that difficult. We simply want justice and compensation for all the hurt we have suffered since 1977.  Naturally, we need answers to achieve closure.  In the meantime, we are forced to wait and trauma continues to impact families. Those that decided to stay in Seychelles have also suffered, but it was their choice not to bring their cases to the TRNUC.  It appears there is a blame culture going on: We are not children of Seychelles now because we brought our cases to the TRNUC. However, the suffering goes on for all.. For some victims it is too late. They have died with no answers forthcoming. So I ask: Where are the lists and names of the perpetrators? Why is the President keeping the lists from us? Is he protecting someone? Of the few perpetrators who came to the TRNUC, only five or six of them publicly said sorry for what they had done. And that was it. I note that many other known perpetrators are out and about in town, mixing freely with the public. It has become a sick joke and we, the victims, are suffering. The fact is I believe the TRNUC has become such a shambles that no one wants to deal with it. The LDS have the power they want and are cynically running the country without a care in the world. They have no sense of responsibility or duty. The LDS government is trying to wash its hands when it comes to paying the victims – though I see that they managed to find the money to pay all the Commissioners.  Yet who set up this scenario in the first place? It was Ramkalawan and former President Danny Faure. Timing is all, of course, and there are elections next year. We’ve got to watch it, or LDS might use the victims again to get another term in office. The more you think about the issue the more it makes you sick. How on Earth are we ever going to achieve unity in Seychelles when this situation persists?
11th March 2024
By Lewis BetsyThe scandal of what is happening with the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission is an outrageous insult to the people of Seychelles.In his State of the Nation Address (SONA... more...
Hope: Lewis Betsy meets President Danny Faure at State House on 16th March 2017 to discuss unity.
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By Lewis BetsyI write this with a great sense of loss and despair. For decades now I have campaigned for my beloved Seychelles to achieve unity.It is now March 2024 and there is nothing like it in sig... more...
1st March 2024
By Lewis BetsyWe heard optimistic words about the future of Seychelles from President Wavel Ramkalawan in his State of the Nation Address for 2024, but will these hopes be fulfilled?He talked about th... more...
Expert: Alain St.Ange addresses the audience at the African-Asian Union ceremony
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Devoted mother: Helen Azolan
31st January 2024
By Lewis BetsyIt was with great sadness that my wife and I said a final farewell to our dear friend Helen Azolan.Helen, a much-loved mother of four, died aged 64, and Seychellois families and friends ... more...
Dedication: Rosie Bistoquet (picture The National Assembly of Seychelles)
8th January 2024
By Lewis BetsyI would like to pay a personal tribute to the life and work of Rosie Bistoquet, a member of the Seychelles National Assembly, whose life has ended so tragically.Rosie Bistoquet, 62 and a... more...
Best wishes: Lewis Betsy, publisher of Seychelles Life
20th December 2023
By Lewis BetsySeychelles Life would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.It has been a terrible time for those hit by the floods and then the massive explosion in Mahe.My heart... more...

I had to keep my cool, says coach Don Anacoura after Real Maldive’s nail-biting promotion battle

30th July 2020

Ecstatic: The Real Maldives squad celebrate their promotion
Ecstatic: The Real Maldives squad celebrate their promotion

Talk about leaving it late… Real Maldives won promotion in a hard-fought match with just one minute to spare at Stad Linite. The Anse-Etoile based club saw Josip Ravinia score their only goal to equalise with St John Bosco in the 94th minute, but it was enough. St John Bosco from Pointe Larue needed all three points to overtake Real in the Championship table and move on up to the Premier League. They were on course after scoring in the 16th minute yet Real, who have twice failed to win promotion, kept their nerve and took advantage of the five minutes of added time. At the final whistle they were ecstatic.

The St John Bosco players were so crushed they didn’t even bother to collect the runner-up medals. It must have been an odd experience playing in an empty stadium because of the coronavirus restrictions, but the result was a compensation for Real Maldives and their coach Don Anacoura. Seychelles Life asked him for his thoughts about the season ahead. He is very positive – and he revealed he is not scared by any of Real’s future opponents…

Seychelles Life:

Congratulations on your team being promoted to the Premier League. At the start of the season did you think this was a possibility?

Don Anacoura: 

Honestly yes, with the squad at my disposal.

 

Seychelles Life:

What was the turning point for you this season?

Don Anacoura: 

I will say the sponsorship we received from the HIS company which really helped us to motivate our players monetarily. Also the match vs Anse Royale – we were behind 3-0 at half time and we managed to overcome them 5-3.

 

Seychelles Life:

Can you pinpoint why you were so successful?

Don Anacoura: 

We recruited players which made our squad complete, with depth. Also the unity in our committee.

 

Seychelles Life: 

You suffered twice before and failed to get promotion in the play-offs. How nervous were you before that final match with St John Bosco?

Don Anacoura: 

Very nervous, as the match was delayed a lot. But as a coach you have to maintain coolness, especially in front of the players.

 

Seychelles Life:

Was it a fair result?

Don Anacoura: 

I will definitely say yes. I don’t believe Bosco played better, though I also feel it was not our best match.

 

Seychelles Life:

Do you sympathise with the St John Bosco players who took the result badly?

Don Anacoura:

For sure I have once been on this side, but I suppose in football you always have to have support.

Great support: Fans of Real Maldives enjoy the moment
Great support: Fans of Real Maldives enjoy the moment

Seychelles Life: 

What has been the reaction of your supporters to your success?

Don Anacoura: 

Just imagine, even with no spectators! After the match we had a big group waiting outside the gate.     

Seychelles Life:

How do you think your team will react to being in the Premier League?

Don Anacoura:

I believe we will work hard.

 

Seychelles Life:

What will be the biggest challenge?

Don Anacoura:

Surely to get the financial assistant needed to build a better group.

 

Seychelles Life:

Which team do you fear most?

Don Anacoura: 

None.

 

Seychelles Life:

What is the first thing you will do to prepare for the new season?

Don Anacoura: 

Definitely get the players to understand our goals and objectives and together set our target.

 

Seychelles Life:

Will you still have the same players?

Don Anacoura:

Yes, but will also want to add few more.

 

Seychelles Life:

Will you have to rethink tactics?

Don Anacoura: 

Maybe.

 

Seychelles Life:

Seychelles Life has been proud to support the Real Maldives through its website and when possible its publisher Lewis Betsy and his son, Kevin, head coach for the England Under-17 Men’s squad, have donated kit for the players. Keeping a club financially sound can sometimes be difficult. How do you cope?

Don Anacoura: 

This season we had support from HIS company, but otherwise we will cope with help mainly from our committee members and a few sponsors for equipment.

Ovation in the stands: Everyone is a winner
Ovation in the stands: Everyone is a winner

Latest News

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By Lewis BetsyThis is such a sad time as I have lost another dear friend, Elvis Dias.He died four… more...
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By Lewis Betsy  The scandal of what is happening with the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission is an outrageous insult to the people of Seychelles. In his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ramkalawan referred to the TRNUC, but he never offered anything serious or concrete concerning what would happen to the victims. I had previously warned that the Commission looked doomed to fail.  Yet it must not fail. The Government must not let the victims down. The truth is that the TRNUC has become a joke for the LDS Government. They are playing politics with it and applying a delaying tactics strategy with the victims.  The time has come to say enough is enough. My case number is No 2 and I am sure by now the Government must have had an idea where mine and all the many other cases were heading. It is not that difficult. We simply want justice and compensation for all the hurt we have suffered since 1977.  Naturally, we need answers to achieve closure.  In the meantime, we are forced to wait and trauma continues to impact families. Those that decided to stay in Seychelles have also suffered, but it was their choice not to bring their cases to the TRNUC.  It appears there is a blame culture going on: We are not children of Seychelles now because we brought our cases to the TRNUC. However, the suffering goes on for all.. For some victims it is too late. They have died with no answers forthcoming. So I ask: Where are the lists and names of the perpetrators? Why is the President keeping the lists from us? Is he protecting someone? Of the few perpetrators who came to the TRNUC, only five or six of them publicly said sorry for what they had done. And that was it. I note that many other known perpetrators are out and about in town, mixing freely with the public. It has become a sick joke and we, the victims, are suffering. The fact is I believe the TRNUC has become such a shambles that no one wants to deal with it. The LDS have the power they want and are cynically running the country without a care in the world. They have no sense of responsibility or duty. The LDS government is trying to wash its hands when it comes to paying the victims – though I see that they managed to find the money to pay all the Commissioners.  Yet who set up this scenario in the first place? It was Ramkalawan and former President Danny Faure. Timing is all, of course, and there are elections next year. We’ve got to watch it, or LDS might use the victims again to get another term in office. The more you think about the issue the more it makes you sick. How on Earth are we ever going to achieve unity in Seychelles when this situation persists?
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