We were all thrilled to be at the Anjalay Stadium on 21 March to watch Didier Drogba’s national team, Ivory Coast, playing in a friendly against our own Mauritian national team.
I was sure that we were going to draw with the Ivory Coast. Of course, we were not going to beat them but I felt that with the proper tactics we could nullify the presence of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Didier Zokora, Kolo Touré et al. But I was wrong. We lost 0-3!
As the match unfolded in front of us, we realised that the Mauritian team was not good enough. The tactics used were too negative. We were only playing with one attacker, the rather short Christopher Perle. He couldn’t do anything against the Ivory Coast defenders. I personally thought that we should have started the match in a 4-3-3 formation with two quick wingers. Of course, we would have lost but with a much more satisfying 3-4…
In fact, the Ivory Coast team only really started playing during the second half. And when Didier Drogba got in, we were all sure in the stadium that we were doomed. And it was not because of the Ivory Coast players. We were doomed because our own players were not good enough. In fact, our right wingback (as we played a kind of 5-4-1) was always comically injured. I don’t understand how we could not have a replacement for him…
There were a lot of other negatives during the match. One was the lack of information about the players. We did not know who was playing. The MFA should have distributed an information leaflet. There was no public announcer. In fact, the atmosphere was not great (compared to the few past international matches I’ve been)! As always, the scoreboard was not working. Consequently, I only knew who scored this morning when listening to the radio… My feeling is that the organisation was extremely amateur.
One extremely positive aspect was that we were having the opportunity to watch a world-class team of football players in front of us. Kyan and Anya, who were watching their first ever real football match, were delighted. You should have heard them singing the national anthem at the beginning… I was so proud of them.
Ashvin and Jyotish also came. Can you see how Jyotish is being sarcastic? Mauritius was not beaten by Ivory Coast. Mauritius was beaten by its own amateurish behaviour.
The next World Cup is in South Africa. Naturally, a small country like Mauritius cannot qualify (even if similar-sized countries have qualified in the past). But we should really capitalise on the event. Mauritius must become the training ground of top teams like England, France, Brazil etc. This will boost our morbid economy! But this requires a perfect organisation (not to say a perfect canvassing campaign). After watching yesterday’s match, I have some doubts about our capacity to organise such a major event. Let’s hope private Mauritian companies can seize this opportunity. We need the money. Amen!
“…the organisation was extremely amateur”…you’ve got the right words!!!
I personally don’t think Mauritius has whatsoever calibre of organising any other higher class tournament other than “Les Jeux des îles de L’Océan Indien” or “Les Jeux d’Afrique”. Harsh words you say!!…but I think many will agree on this point.
Regarding the match itself, I would have preferred Mauritius playing a regular 4-4-2 rather than that ferocious defensive mode. I simply think that the Mauritian team didn’t have the legs on the night to cause any sort of damage to the Ivory Coast defense.
After the match, the Ivory Coast manager said that the Mauritian team played well (defensively) during the first 60min and being a semi-professional team playing against a professional one, logically faded out later on. So, this is just to confirm a bit our current football level…
Lets hope to redeem ourself on Sunday against Soudan…Hope for the best!
P.S: I heard some speculations around with a dream match coming up at the end of the year…Mauritius vs Brazil. Is it the icing on the cake??!! Lets cross fingers :)
It was a gala match anyway and it provided dreary Ivory Coast players some bonding and match practice together before their African Nations match against Madagascar on Sunday.
(I personally don’t think Mauritius has whatsoever calibre of organising any other higher class tournament other than “Les Jeux des îles de L’Océan Indien†or “Les Jeux d’Afriqueâ€Â)
I dnt thk so..we CAN organise provided we get the right persons…it was a bunch of amateurs who eventually created this chaos after the match..should let go this attitude of “privilegier les copains”.
How come all these people were on the field when Drogba was being awarded a trophy? Saken pli “VIP” ki so camarad!!!
That’s why I want the private sector to get in.
I think that, given the massive profit that is possible, they will be very eager to do things properly. It’s not easy to get world-class teams like France, England and Brazil coming to Mauritius to train. But it’s definitely possible…
(…should let go this attitude of “privilegier les copainsâ€Â)
This is unfortunately the kind of mentality anchored in the Mauritian society or shall I say “les oganisateurs”. This is a fact…don’t bet against that…
Yeah perhaps the private sector can change twinkle our hopes…
I’m looking forward to having our National ‘goaléadors’ score against the Sudan. At least a draw (mais pa zoué un ‘batte boule, casse boule devant’ as has been their style against the Cote d’Ivoire)!
It’s obviously true that the Mauritian team does not have the finesse of a real national squad as it was say a decade ago when we nearly went through to CAN 2000.
Sorry please read “Yeah perhaps the private sector can twinkle our hopes…” instead
duh..was much disappointed by the game yesterday..
u could see that the mauritian player we tired/dissapointed after that accidental own goal..
nevertheless..they shouldnt have lose hope..
anyways..the victory of sudan yesterday was not a deserving one..
some1 told me yesterday..
“sa match la pas pou guetter ki sanla ki pli bon..mais ki sanla ki moins bom”
anyways..
am not much into football myself..
bt wen it comes to supporting my country..am in
ALLEZ MAURICE..
which reminds me y i quit playing football..
once in college..we were playing..a full speed mikasa ball end its course on my face..and i was K.O..
since then i kinda have a phobia..
one day i shall play again..
Hey you were right besides us at the stadium Mr Meetoo!!! There was a bunch of CSE lvl 2 students there!!! lolz… Well of course you wouldn’t have recognised us, since we’re from group A…
Anyways, as you said, the organization was amateur, the stadium seems to have been neglected for quite a long time: dirty, out of order electronic scoreboard (which from what I heard would cost Rs 9 million only for repairs!!!), etc. But it was worth being there for an evening kick off (which is once in a blue moon for a gala match…)…
I have to say, that I could not agree with you in 100% regarding s team against Mauritius, but it’s just my opinion, which could be wrong :)
I HAV SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT OUR TEAM
mauritian team is sooo amateur. we have to improve z tactics of football otherwise football will not become popular in mauritius. football must be organise like b4, scouts, fire, sunrise etc, zen football will bcome amazing.
all zat i have 2 say is dat football must b played with mind. we have two legs like z Ivory coast n z ball is alike n z pleyground 2. y can’t we play like them???? its just the lack of tactics. ze mauritius selection team is not enough as u thought. zers better player around the island. just go n watch around z island how many good player there are. so let them get their chance also so zat we can have a better maritian team. pas fier seulment lor creol………..
I agree with this. Mauritius need some structure in their academy and more money and awareness needs to be put into grass roots football. Talented players from schools should be encouraged to keep playing not just go to tuition all the time to become doctors!