Coach Clarel Beeharry and his team at ASPL 2000 have made history in Mauritian football by qualifying for the second preliminary round of the CAF Cup. The team's journey began with a win against Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana, with a cumulative score of 1-2. Beeharry, who has experience working at the Liverpool Football Academy, took on the role of coach at ASPL 2000 mid-last season. His team comprises mostly young players he had previously worked with at the academy, including his son Stewel.
The ASPL 2000 team, led by Coach Beeharry, has achieved an extraordinary feat, especially considering the team's inexperience in African competitions. Many had advised Beeharry against relying on young players, but he remained confident in their abilities. Beeharry's mentor, Sarjoo Gowreesunkur, played a significant role in the team's success. Gowreesunkur, who has a CAF A diploma, has been guiding Beeharry in his coaching career. The two have a strong understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Sarjoo Gowreesunkur, a seasoned coach, had previously trained Beeharry when he was 25 years old. Their reunion at ASPL 2000 has been instrumental in the team's progress. Gowreesunkur's experience in African competitions has been invaluable to Beeharry, who is relatively new to this level of competition. The two coaches worked together to devise a strategy that would help the team overcome Jwaneng Galaxy.
The team's victory was not without its challenges. A technical issue led to Beeharry being absent from the bench during the return match in Botswana. His assistant, Gino Labutte, and Etienne Liva Rasoanaivo were in charge on the bench. Despite this setback, Beeharry managed to communicate with his players and make tactical changes that ultimately led to their success.
Beeharry's approach to coaching emphasizes the importance of five key values: ambition, technical skill, tactics, mental toughness, and dignity. He learned these principles during his training at Liverpool FC and has been applying them to his work at ASPL 2000. The team's qualification for the next round of the CAF Cup is a testament to the effectiveness of Beeharry's methods.
The team's success has also been attributed to Beeharry's ability to adapt and make tactical changes during the match. He switched from a 4-1-4-1 formation to a 4-4-2 formation at halftime, which caught the opposing team off guard. This tactical shift, combined with the team's determination and hard work, ultimately led to their victory.
As the team celebrates their historic qualification, Beeharry remains focused on the challenges ahead. He believes that the team's success is a sign of the potential for growth and development in Mauritian football. With young players like Stewel, who became the youngest Mauritian player to score in the CAF Cup, Beeharry is confident that the future of Mauritian football is bright.
Key points
- Coach Clarel Beeharry's ASPL 2000 team qualifies for the CAF Cup second preliminary round.
- Beeharry's team comprises mostly young players from the Liverpool Football Academy.
- The team's success is attributed to Beeharry's tactics and the guidance of his mentor, Sarjoo Gowreesunkur.
