MAURITIUSsmall footballing
economies than
in Mauritius.
At one point,
the government even stepped in to help
fund full-time professional squads, but
those grants were disappearing as the
virus hit.
MFA technical director Zunaid Mall
says: “There are a lot of Liverpool and
Manchester United fans in Mauritius.
We need to think about when we are
playing games so it doesn’t clash with
the Premier League and the other big
leagues. Friday nights under lights
would be good as there’s a good
atmosphere.”
Even when the league resumes,
further changes to COVID-19 rules will
be needed as gatherings of more than
50 people are banned. The government
made an exception for the two Sao
Tome games. Up to 250 people,
including players, staff, officials and
media were admitted to Cote d’Or,
including the Republic’s president,
Prithvirajsing Roopun.
Francois’ team could not have made
a better start with Bru coolly slotting
home a penalty on 25 minutes after
a clear handball. A lack of composure
saw the visitors equalise immediately
from the restart though, through
Finnish-based forward Ricardo
Cardoso, who slid home.
When Leal scored a second a few
minutes later, Mauritius looked doomed
and the handful of supporters outside
the stadium dissipated.Francois’ tactics of playing with
a single forward left Dylan Collard
isolated, and while Rose controlled
the centre of defence the flanks
were frequently exploited by the
lively Cardoso.
Collard equalised early in the second
half but Mauritius again conceded from
the restart following a fantastic Cardoso
strike. Francois’ team never gave up and
the late introductions of experienced
midfielder Kevin Perticots and one of
the island’s most promising players
nearly won a thrilling game.
After netting 53 goals in 86
appearances for club side Boulet
Rouge and a strong performance
at the 2019 COSAFA Cup, forward
Ashley Nazira won a contract with
San Diego Loyal in the USL.
No player from Mauritius had
ever played in the USA. Nazira only
managed a couple of appearances
before being released and returning
to play in the neighbouring Frenchterritory of Reunion. Nursing an injury,
he did not start against Sao Tome but
after being introduced equalised late
on to set up a rocking finish.
Driven on by the appearance of
a drum, Mauritius poured forward but
Sao Tome ultimately held on. Mauritius
created sufficient chances to win the
gamebutwereundonebyalackof
composure. Asked what he needed
to have won the tie, Francois sighed
afterwards: “More time.”
For Mauritius, there will be plenty
of that now. The Indian Ocean Games
returns next year in Madagascar but
only for local players. The regional
COSAFA Cup offers international
football but the next AFCON
qualifiers remain two years away.
“It’s been difficult times, we’ve lost a
lot of time to COVID and the restrictions,”
says Mall. “Our pathway is to mirror what
Comoros have done and make sure that
we can play on the continental stage.
COSAFA is fine but we need the
continental stage.”
Mauritius have talented junior players
and in 2017 reached their first major
youth final at the COSAFA Under-17
tournament, losing only to Zambia.
“It was a full house at the St
Francois Stadium, it was bouncing
and they had to close the gates,”
adds Mall, who was there. “You
can see the passion of the people.”
The player of that tournament,
Jean Yannick Aristide, was playing
for Mauritius against Sao Tome. Mall
believes that now is the time to bring
through more youngsters as football
in Mauritius remerges from the twilight
of the virus into an uncertain future.“If we lose then we don’t play for two years.
That’s why I haven’t played so many games”
Lindsay Rose, Mauritius captainTop facilities...
Mauritius’ new sports
centre at Cote d’Or
(Credit: Steve Menary)