Kevin Betsy a winner in shock shake-up at Queens Park Rangers
By Seychelles Life Sports Correspondent
Seychelles-born Kevin Betsy was all smiles after being put in joint charge of Championship football team Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
QPR won 1-0 against Sunderland in the final game of the season.
Kevin, 47, who represented the Seychelles national team and played in and trained top English clubs, took joint charge of QPR with fellow assistant coach Xavi Calm after a shock mid-week when the full-time manager was suddenly placed on gardening leave.
The victory left the Betsy family “over the moon”.
Kevin’s father, Lewis Betsy, said: “We are all delighted. It was a great opportunity for Kevin and after his many years of experience he delivered his best.”
Lewis is himself a former Seychelles national team captain and now publisher of Seychelles Life.
Kevin’s break came after QPR forced Spanish manager Marti Cifuentes to step down after he was linked with the manager’s job at both West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City.
Cifuentes was appointed QPR head coach in October 2023 and guided them from the relegation zone last season. They ended this season 15th in the table.
Kevin said: “It was a very unexpected week for us, but the players showed a fantastic mentality from Tuesday's training sessions. Each day they were positive and their application was outstanding.
"If you have the right training week it sets you up for a decent performance on a Saturday.”
Kevin admits he and Calm didn’t look to make too many changes for the Sunderland game, saying: “There were some slight tweaks but we didn't want to complicate things too much.”
The result, he said, was “an outstanding performance”.
As for the future, Kevin who joined QPR as individual development coach last summer, played down the prospect of him being promoted manager.
He said: “No. I’m very clear; the club recruited me for a specific role.
“My role has been first-team coach, working 80 per cent with individual players to improve – I’ve got a real expertise, I would say, in helping individuals develop – and hopefully I’ll be going back to that role. That’s very clear.”
He added: “The football club will take time to look at what they want to do going forward and there will be a few reviews, meetings, and then the staff will get a well-deserved break.
“We will wait for the phone to say whether we are wanted at the club or not. It is the nature of first-team football - if you want security and regularity in your life then maybe do a different job.”