Rovers U13 - Madewis Cup |16 June 2025
From local dominance to European competitors
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Rovers FC鈥檚 U-13 Elite Programme has firmly announced itself on the European stage, improving on last year鈥檚 12th-place finish in the Madewis Cup, by claiming 10th among some of the continent鈥檚 finest. Competing against powerhouses such as Juventus FC, Paris FC and SC Braga, Rovers stood toe-to-toe with each opponent, most notably pushing eventual finalists Paris FC to an intense 1鈥�2 defeat only in the closing minutes.
Such performances are unprecedented for a Seychellois youth side.
鈥淭o challenge and outplay these academies show that we are already on par 鈥� if not beyond 鈥� many European standards,鈥� said head coach Rupert Pool who added that this generation has shattered expectations and proven that hard work, vision and structure can elevate Seychelles football to new heights.
Alongside the Madewis fixtures, Rovers have faced 13 different professional clubs and academies, securing impressive victories over N卯mes Olympique, Marignane Gignac C么te Bleue, USA Clichy 92 and an English Junior Premier League Select XI to name a few.
Each win underscored the gap Rovers have closed on established European systems in just four years of intensive development.
鈥淭his French tour is a statement,鈥� added coach Pool, noting that from their tactical discipline to physical resilience, they were in France not merely to participate, but to compete and win.鈥�
Academy director Lucas Panayi remarked on the wider significance of the tour:鈥淔or a team from Seychelles to hold its own against elite youth sides is a monumental achievement. Our development model has been battle-tested on European soil, and the results speak for themselves. We owe a debt of gratitude to SFF technical director Osama Haroun, whose programmes, support and local groundwork have made these opportunities possible,鈥� said Mr Panayi.
Rovers鈥� French tour continues for another week, with daily matches and mini-tournaments scripted against at least a dozen more professional clubs and academies.
Each fixture offers further proof that Seychelles鈥� next generation of footballers can match the best, cementing Rovers FC鈥檚 role as trailblazers for youth development in the Indian Ocean region.
The accompanying photos highlight Rovers FC鈥檚 French tour.
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Text and photos: Contributed