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Seychelles coach concedes defeat, hails Kenya’s performance

11-16-2011

Seychelles coach concedes defeat, hails Kenya’s performance

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Seychelles head coach Jean-Louis Ralphs conceded losing to Kenya in the two-legged World Cup qualifying match played at Nyayo National Stadium on Tuesday.

Kenya humiliated Seychelles 4-0 in the return leg tie to qualify on 7-0 goal ggregate. The Kenyans had won the first leg in Mahe 3-0. In Nairobi, well taken goals from Brian Mandela, Dennis Oliech, Titus Mulama and Victor Mugubi sealed victory for the Kenyans.

Cafonline.com spoke to Seychelles coach Ralphs after the match.

Cafonline.com: What is your take on today’s match?

Louis: I must admit that Kenya was the better team. We lost to a more superior team in all departments. They (Kenya) beat us fairly and squarely. We were outdone in all sections…I mean starting from defending aerial ball and passing. Our performance was also flat because we could not even threaten Kenya’s goalmouth owing to the team’s well built rear guard. I must congratulate them for the job well done.

Cafonline.com: Does today’s defeat and exit from World Cup Group stage competition demoralize your team’s future?

Louis: No…I don’t think so because we are working on building this team and you could see that most of the players in the squad are coming up now. We had the youngest squad out there today and it gives me hopes that one day we will be somewhere.

Cafonline.com: What was your team’s undoing in today’s encounter?

Louis: We could not cope with the speed by Kenyan players. Our opponents were also quicker in supplying balls something that disjointed my players. I strongly believe that we need to work extremely hard on our speed if we need to prosper. And our passing also plus defending was not up to the task because we let Kenyans dribble past us very easily. Look at the fourth goal…. it was simply a move that my defenders could have stopped but they could not.

Cafonline.com: Do you believe that the match was won away in Seychelles when you lost 3-0?

Louis: No. I still came to Nairobi with believe that we can turn tables. We had the chance to do so but our performance was not to perfection. We couldn’t defend well and the moment you are down 3-0 at half-time…the game is as good as gone. We must now focus ahead and have cohesion in this young team for future assignments.

Cafonline.com: Now that you are out of the competition what is your next step?

Louis: I have a lot to do with this team. I want to build a strong team to compete with the best in Africa. I know we can make it. We need to have a strong believe and that will be the only way to make good things out of this team.

Cafonline.com: Do you believe the cold weather affected your team’s ambitions in today’s match?

Louis: No. It will be wrong to blame the weather. Kenya was the best team in the pitch. We could not march them and to say that weather affected my team…then I would be lying. It was a match they dominated well and deserved to win.

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