9 January 2008
Port Louis — "I am fond of sports. As a consequence, I follow all disciplines within the local context, and, as far as I am concerned, tennis is my favourite. But, as I said, I follow all disciplines for the sake of fun and pleasure.
I have been in Mauritius for the last ten years and although I have a real interest in sports, I have been able to note that there has been a continuous decline regarding the level in disciplines such as football and volley-ball. When I look back to ten years ago, I consider that we have moved from a position of leader to the last position.
According to me, this decline is often due to internal problems within the federations concerned. Moreover, I find unimaginable that athletes and sportsmen are the ones that have to pay the price for this. In fact, the priority should be given to sports people in such contexts. Coming back to sports itself, I look at the program 'Sports-études' established by the Trust Fund for Excellence in Sports, I am able to see light at the end of the tunnel. Obviously, the results will not be noticed yet, but hopefully they will come within the next five or six years. In other words, if everything goes to plan, we may see very good top-class athletes in the future. It goes without saying that I totally agree with this project.
The other thing that I find is a pity is the regionalization of football. In fact, this was done because of the trouble that had occurred after a football match. In my opinion, the trouble that had occurred did not have much to do with football itself. But, if this was the case, there were other solutions rather than regionalizing football. In Italy, in lower divisions there has recently been the creation of a 'third half'. Indeed, the so-called third half is about fair-play rather than the follow-up of the second half of the football match. It consists of making the home team organize a meal after each match and have lunch or dinner with the away team to make them finish the match on a good note. Actually, I would make this my recommendation for the football federation for 2008! (Laughter)."
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