OZORDI DIMANS

Sunday 27 November, 2022 SUNDAY EDITION 60 www.today.sc |

MEN LEADING BY
EXAMPLE

5-6 Alvin Laurence - A

man striving to
bring change to the society
11 Wilson Nancy: Financial
discipline is the key to a
successful business
15 Men’s Health going
through a silent
unspoken crisis
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p2
OZORDI DIMANS | EDITOR’S NOTE
Keep some fuel in
the tank
C
ome the most exciting and liberat-
ing years of my life – yes I’m talking
about the 60s and the round-the-cor-
ner 70s – there are a few things that I wish
my parents had impressed upon me more
while I was growing up.
At the top of the list would have been this
advice: Son, save some fuel in the tank for
later in life and have a balanced healthy
lifestyle.
So here’s mine to my two sons, and to all
young men, and women, out there: don’t
sow all your oats now, save some for later.
And one of the surest ways to help save
some for later is to temper one’s life in
the early years and lead a lifestyle and fol-
low the right eating habits that can help to
keep Diabetes at bay, whilst still having all
the fun and excitement of youth.
The Core Team
Christophe Christine
Zialor Ouma
Junior Editor/Journalist
E: Christophe.zialor@today.sc E: Christine.ouma@today.sc
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p3
Published by:
TODAY Publishers Seychelles
Ltd.
For Diabetes is one of the slow destroy-
ers of life and one of its most serious con- Le Chantier, P.O Box 999,
sequences is Erectile Dysfunction, simply Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
known as ED, which can affect both men Website: www.today.sc
and women. Email: info@ozordidimans.sc
Phone: +248 4290999
It is not inevitable, as you will read inside,
and much of it can be stalled by leading
a balanced life, eating properly, and keep The core team:
away from smoking and alcohol.
Veronica Maria
Inspired by the recent International Men’s Managing Director
Day, and to some measure by the manly E: Veronica.maria@today.sc
football extravaganza going on right now
in the World Cup in Qatar, our team has put
together a feast of useful information on
men’s health, which friends should share, Sales & Marketing
and parents should use to guide their chil-
E: sales@ozordidimans.sc
dren.
I commend it to you if you want to live Gilbert J. Pool
longer, healthier and happier. Editor-at Large Graphics & Layout:
Archille Marimba
Cover Photo
Alvin Laurence
U-roy Jahnesta Copyright Disclaimer:
The material contained in this
Jules Moses electronic magazine is copy-
righted and the property of
TODAY Publishers (Seychelles)
Limited. It may not be repro-
duced in part or whole in any
form or by any means without
prior written permission from
TODAY Publishers Seychelles
Limited. We shall gladly au-
thorize the reproduction of
any part for reviewing purpos-
es with our prior approval.
Journalist Journalist Journalist
E: Uroy.Jules@today.sc E: nesta@pure907.sc
 OZORDI DIMANS | CONTENTS Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p4

LEAD STORY
CONTENTS NATURE
WEEK
REVIEW
What Made TODAY’S
P5-6 Alvin Laurence - a man striving to bring change to P28 The male Coco de Mer Headline this Week
the society
All eyes on Qatar as the World Cup
FOOD AND DRINKS kicks off
FEATURES All eyes were on Qatar on Sunday 20 Novem-
P31 World Cup Eats ber when they officially opened the FIFA World
P7 Pro Club Youth Academy-our future footballers Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. Amid
loud cheers from the fans, the ceremony be-
ART AND CRAFTS gan after a 30-second countdown – an amaz-
ing atmosphere to kick off the one-month long
ENTREPRENEURSHIP P34 Coming Back to Colour… but with the added attraction game.
of motion
P11 Wilson Nancy: Financial discipline is the key to a
successful business. DICT gets a SCR1.494million in-
crease in budget allocation
EDUCATION Compared to 2022 when the budget alloca-
tion was SCR71.3million, the Department of
HEALTH AND WELLNESS P36 Here’s what happens to your body when you cut out Information, Communication and Technol-
alcohol for 30 days ogy requested the approval for a budget of
P13 Erectile dysfunction and Diabetes: Take control today SCR72,802,000 for 2023, which was approved
unanimously. The Department of Information
P15 Men’s Health going through a silent unspoken crisis CREATIVE WRITING and Communications Technologies (DICT) is
responsible for the formulation of and imple-
P16 No man is an island unto himself P38 Book Lovers mentation of Information Communications
Technology (ICT) related policies nationally.
On the other hand, Office of the President’
GEARS AND GADGETS HISTORY budget drops by SCR 6.4million. he Nation-
al Assembly approved the budget of SCR
P18 The iconic Mercedes-Benz W210 P41 How was Seychelles discovered? 63,314,000 for the Office of the President. The
proposed budget is a drop of 6.4Million com-
pared to SCR69.732 Million for 2022.
BEAUTY AND STYLE ENTERTAINMENT
Prosecution ready for December trial
P43 Rizzoli & Isles with some 60 witnesses as Valabhjis
P20 The UNISEX struggle of curly hair
call for postponement
P22 Model of the Week While the prosecution is ready to proceed
BEHIND THE LYRICS with the terrorism and ammunitions case on
December 1st, 2022, the defendants Mukesh
P44 Holding out for a hero- By Bonne Tyler and Laura Valabhji on Monday filed a motion
DESIGN AND DÉCOR to postpone the trial. Chief amongst their rea-
sons is that the Anti-Corruption Commission of
P23 And if there was the perfect office chair SPORTS Seychelles (ACCS) has yet to pay the legal fees
for both their local and foreign-based lawyers.
P45-46 World Cup Recap
TRAVEL, LEISURE, AND ADVENTURE Fire completely destroys house
P25 Let us take a tour at the Seychelles Tea Factory GAMES at Au Cap
Tragedy struck the home located at Pointe au
P47 How to play Snakes and Ladders Sel, near Au Cap, Monday morning when a fire
P26 The thing about Brazil completely destroyed a three-bedroom house.
The house was the home of Nigel Vidot and
partner Aicha Bijoux, and their nine-month-
old little boy. A Mauritian GOP holder, who is
employed with Mr Vidot, was also an occupant
of the house.

Government to relook at Covid-19

border controls to ease Seychellois
travel
TODAY understands that plans are afoot for

5-6 13
the Government to relook at Covid19-related
border controls with the view to making the
lives of travelling Seychellois easier. This
could follow similar moves by many other
countries including Europe and the Middle
East, which are all starting to treat Covid like
a common flu.

‘Change will always be met with

resistance,’ says Chief Secretary
Public servants who feel that they were not
fairly evaluated on their performance, to gain
their 13th month salary, will be able to ap-
peal their case to grievance committees, Chief
Secretary of the Public Service Bureau, Shella
Mohideen, said in the National Assembly this

07 16 31
week. Ms Mohideen was speaking in regards
to 50% of the 13thmonth salary which will be
based on results and performance. As of next
year, the entirety of an employee’s 13-month
will be based on performance.

Bangladeshi dies in 14th fatal road

accident
A 26-year-old man was detained early
Wednesday morning on the charge of reckless
driving and driving while intoxicated in con-
nection with the death of Andy Farouk, a gar-
bage truck driver from Bangladesh. According
to police, Farouk was working alongside two
colleagues when he was struck by a car travel-
ing from town, resulting in numerous signifi-
cant injuries. The SCAA fire officers and police

23 26 36
officials treated Farouk on the scene but he
was certified dead by the pathologist. Police
confirmed that they received the call around
3:15 am.
OZORDI DIMANS | PEOPLE
BY CHRISTINE OUMA
A
lvin Laurence has been
committed to public service
almost all his life. From a
very young age, perhaps the most
defining pull towards public service
would have to be his Christian faith
that has been bestowed upon him
by his family.
The CEO of Citizen Engagement
Platform Seychelles (CEPS) also
attributes much of his professional
experience working with the people
and advocating for their welfare
both locally and internationally to
his training in philosophy, theology,
social science, and political science.
“I consider ‘the public’ as my field
of expertise,” he says.
He quickly understood as he grew
older that assisting others was more
satisfying than achieving academic
success, and this realisation served
as his first leadership training.
“Looking back the influence of
my mum seems to have played a
crucial role as well,” he remarks.
The family man, who has also once
served as the Principal Secretary
for Poverty Alleviation Department
(2019-20210); Chief Executive
Officer Seychelles National Youth
Council (2015-2019); the Director
of Policy and Public Affairs in the
Vice President’s Office in 2010
certainly fits the description of ‘a
man leading by example’.
He speaks to Ozordi Dimans about
civic engagement, current social
issues, family life, and the qualities
that every responsible man ought
to aspire for.
Alvin Laurence
a man striving to bring change to the society
Mr. Alvin Laurence (right) with his children and wife Vanessa
Ozordi Dimans: You’ve been
part of the team that researched
poverty in Seychelles. Talk to us
about Poverty in Seychelles. How
dire is poverty in Seychelles, and
in what ways does it affect the
family unit?
Alvin Laurence: I have been
fortunate enough to be part of the
National Committee dealing with
Poverty since its inception in 2017.
Then I was moved to the Poverty
department where my involvement
was on yet another level.
Poverty in Seychelles is much more
than a mindset. Driving through the
main roads we see very little of it
but as we go into the secondary
roads into the communities, poverty
is there and it is well in existence.
The notion of poverty however is
approached and defined by each
country based on the definition
and the degree of measurement.
In Seychelles, we opted to measure
poverty at a very high level and as
a result we had almost 40% of the
cases being determined as living
below our poverty line.
In reality, if we were to take
international measures, that
would have been below 4% of the
population.
How have people ended up in
poverty is another debate in itself
but in reality, poverty should be
approached from various angles.
And it is for this reason that we
did not only use income as a
measurement but also moved to
the multi-dimensional poverty.
This gave us a true picture that
poverty is not only linked to
money but also the way of life of
the people. To address poverty,
there are a number of issues-social
issues in particular that need to be
tackled as well.
The Covid-19 pandemic did not
necessarily have an impact on the
situation and at the moment there
is a need for new research so that
we can scientifically know exactly
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p5
where we are situated in poverty.
Over and above everything that
can be said about poverty, the most
important thing that we should
never forget is that the work is not
only a question of dealing with
poverty, but also putting in place all
the necessary apparatus to ensure
that we can prevent poverty.
It is for this reason that the Poverty
Alleviation Department, coming to
the end of its mandate proposed to
be transformed into Quality of Life
Department, which the Ministry
of Family Affairs has now turned
into a Unit. Unfortunately, it is only
addressing a few issues relating to
poverty.
Ozordi Dimans: Is the system
in place for poverty alleviation
working? What areas need
improvement?
Alvin Laurence: The government
has taken a new approach. The
approach is that it shall be dealt
with by the various ministries,
meaning that there is no need for
a department to coordinate all
those activities relating to poverty
alleviation.
This is a similar model to what
we had before 2015, and we know
it did not bring about the best
outcome for Seychelles. However,
the difference now is that it is not
the same leadership.
We hope that through the
new administration, the same
commitment or even better can be
(Continued on Page 6)
OZORDI DIMANS | PEOPLE
(Continued from page 5)
taken to ensure that we deal with
issues dealing with poverty.
The decisions taken by the new
government must be respected
and now it is their responsibility to
report on SDG1 which is poverty.
Therefore, I believe there should
be a coordinating body, which
doesn’t have to be a department or
ministry, that should ensure that
the right approach is being taken
and at least to ensure there is a
reporting system in place to report
to the various international bodies
whose blueprint we have adopted.
Ozordi Dimans: At the moment,
what are the main concerns of
the civil society in Seychelles,
especially when you look at what
organisations are focusing on
currently?
Alvin Laurence: For the time
being the main concern of the civil
society in Seychelles is to ensure
that we have the most conducive
environment for us to thrive. This
has always been the priority of
CEPS as well as its predecessor
Lungos.
But we have to relook our
strategies and laws because we
are in a new era-post Covid, where
we need to adapt.
There are a number of rules and
regulations which we now have
to adhere to, in line with financial
terrorism to ensure that money
laundering do not become a
problem and at the same time, to
ensure that we are in tune with
what is going on around us.
There should always be a level of
accountability and governance.
It is for this reason that CEPS
are focusing on three priority
areas: a conducive environment
for NGOs to thrive, the collection
of data to ensure the allocation
and optimization of our limited
resources, and thirdly to lead
national campaigns to facilitate
the engagement and participation
of all in society.
These focus areas have come
along after much analysis and
reflection, as well as consultation
with our members to move in one
direction but also stay true to our
own identity.
There is so much work for the civil
society to do in Seychelles. There is
more need for collaborations and
engagement of more individuals.
Ozordi Dimans: Besides being
the CEO of CEPS, you are also
actively involved with various
organisations and volunteer
projects. As a family man, how is
it managing multiple projects at
once?
Alvin Laurence: Finding the
right equilibrium between the
family life, professional life and
a high level of engagement is
an art in itself that requires the
participation of key actors from
those sectors.
The understanding from my
family especially my wife is
crucial. She understands that this
is my passion and way of life. It
makes me happy and she can reap
the benefit of a happy husband!
However, there are moments
allocated to my family which are
Mr. Laurence with the CEPS staff
non-negotiable. Even the phone
is put away and whoever calls will
have to wait or they can text and
when I’m ready I shall reply.
Ozordi Dimans: What do you do
when your ethics are challenged?
Alvin Laurence: I have learnt to
humble myself and ponder on
what the others are saying. Trying
my best to understand them
without being ethnocentric. I don’t
consider myself to be always right.
Certain principles and values are
always adhered to.
Ozordi Dimans: So far, what have
you learnt about public service?
Alvin Laurence: Public service is
highly influenced by the political
structure and cultural aspect
of the concerned environment.
However, moving away from
all those theories, my humble
understanding is that it is also a
reflection of society’s willingness
to serve others.
It has been the focus of the former
government to improve it, but the
new government has emphasised
much more about it with the focus
on each individual embracing the
full responsibility to improve the
service given.
This is actually one of the high
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p6
expectation of the public when
they voted for a change. We
can change the political leaders
as much as we want, but the
magnitude of the change will be
felt when all embrace the drive
to contribute in that change and
better serve others. For that we
need the right retention making in
place with the public expectation
being properly managed.
Ozordi Dimans: As we continue
celebrating International Men’s
Day, what traits should every
responsible man aspire to have?
Alvin Laurence: Men should be
humble enough to appreciate
what women can accomplish. It’s
a complementary need in life.
But more importantly we should
always show gratitude towards
all those who have brought us to
become a man. Our parent (s), wife
and children…we should be the
first to thank them rather than wait
for congratulatory message.
Ozordi Dimans: What in your
opinion should every man
accomplish at least once in their
lifetime?
Alvin Laurence: Make a positive
difference in somebody else’s life
without expecting anything in
return.
Ozordi Dimans: What are your
interests outside of work?
Alvin Laurence: I enjoy socio-
political researches, with a
preference for democracy in small
island states. I am passionate about
preserving our culture. Above all,
I take great pleasure in meeting
other people for I believe it is life’s
most fulfilling experience.
OZORDI DIMANS | PEOPLE
PRO CLUB YOUTH ACADEMY PREPARES
OUR FUTURE FOOTBALLERS
I
f you’ve ever wondered from where
our footballers of tomorrow will come
from, look no further than this cre-
ation of Mario Pragassen.
Mario is the outstanding trainer be-
hind this institution, which cultivates
these young talents into disciplined
men through this sport in addition to
developing their talents.
Pro Club Youth Academy has been in
existence for almost five years now and
has established itself as a football train-
ing facility that works with young chil-
dren from the age of four to seventeen.
“I guess my son helped me launch this
academy. He excels at football and en-
joys playing it. We wanted him to con-
tinue playing when we returned to the
Seychelles, so I established the acad-
emy”, explains Pragassen.
Over 70 young boys are currently
training at the expanding institution,
but there are also spaces available for
interested girls.
“I love working with kids, to be per-
fectly honest with you. Given that it
requires a unique combination of skills
to do so, it is highly demanding. Firstly,
patience is a virtue.
“The academy has faced certain diffi-
culties, such as finding the correct num-
ber of instructors for such a huge group.
BY JAHNESTA MOSES
I frequently have to adopt a childlike
persona in order to connect with them.
Some people have helped but they have
not stayed with us”, says Pragassen.
However, the academy has seen sev-
eral success stories. Earlier this year in
May, groups of 20 young football play-
ers were chosen to participate in the
Madewis Cup in France. Players were se-
lected from various football academies
in Seychelles; amongst the chosen was
Rafael Pragassen from Pro Club Acad-
emy.
The Madewis Cup is a national tourna-
ment in France, which gathers more than
10,000 young players up till the age of
12. Teams from outside of France were
welcomed for the first time this year by
the organizers.
The young athletes appreciated the ex-
posure since it exposed them to world-
wide standards and allowed them to in-
teract with young athletes from French
clubs like Lille, Bastia, and Brest.
Pragassen wants to instill a feeling
of purpose in his young players’ lives
through football. He has taught the
young children several lessons that en-
courage responsibility both as players
and as people. He doesn’t supply them
with water, for instance, and instead
pushes them to do it themselves every
day.
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p7
Ultimately, I am more than simply their
coach, he said. They spend a lot of time
on the field, and it is not just for prac-
tice—I also chat with them about life in
general. Many of the boys have absent
fathers or, occasionally, absent mothers.
I’ve never even met or seen the parents
of some of them.
Of course, kids must have their par-
ents’ consent to enter the field, and that
is done appropriately, but seeing them
in person or during games hasn’t hap-
pened, according to Mario.
Mario describes this lack of enough
support as saddening and says that it
does have an impact on the kids.
“I have to try and be there for them. lieves there should be no stigma as-
I sometimes have the role of a social sociated with men and mental health
worker too. However, this also takes a because he has personally undergone
lot of my time and energy. It takes away some experiences that have helped him
from the time I spend with my family. better assist his young group of men.
The lack of commitment from parents
does have an impact on kids and their He values and enjoys working with
overall performances. This needs to be problematic youth individually. The
changed”. academy enables students to concen-
trate on a skill they have rather than just
He is thankful for the continuous sup- academics, which they find difficult.
port he receives from his wife and three
kids, since most of his days is spent Unfortunately, extrinsic forces fre-
away with his group of kids on the play- quently impede children’s develop-
ing field. ment and prevent them from shining as
brightly as they could. His final wish is
Pragassen believes that men’s mental for local media coverage of sports to im-
health should generally be discussed prove, in order to incentivise his juniors.
more frequently and openly. He be-
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p8
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p9
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p10
OZORDI DIMANS | ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FINANCE
Wilson Nancy:
Financial discipline is the key to a successful business
I
n the bustling town of Victoria sits a
discreet and fashionable little café
- Le Rendezvous. Its name is quite
precise as Le rendezvous provides
the discretion and warmth of a casual
convene. Wilson Nancy One of the
owners of Le rendezvous had the
brilliant idea of transforming this space
into a cozy little café after observing
a few foreigners walking by aimlessly
after visiting the Hindu temple close by.
This is just one of the many innovative
ideas of Wilson Nancy.
Wilson Nancy has a few businesses to
his name from one-of-a-kind Brandy-La
CoCofesse to construction companies.
Mr.Nancy comes from a humble
background. After graduating with a
first degree in Civil Engineering and a
second degree in International Banking
Wilson has ventured in many businesses including producing Moringa suplements
and Finance he came back to his
homeland Seychelles, with newfound
inspiration and expertise. He was
employed for almost six years with a
local company until he was approached
by a local businessman to venture into
a private project. 11 years later Nancy
is now the proud owner of several
companies.
There have been many ups and downs
thus far. In all honesty, if you are not
tenacious and committed, you will
fail. You will not succeed if you are
not diligent with your money. If you
start spending your first paycheque on
useless items, Nancy warns, you will
soon run into trouble.
The Business Guru has always
valued his independence and had an
entrepreneurial spirit. Winners never
give up, and losers never succeed, as
Vince Lombardi used to say.
“I learned about the western manner
of doing business through my MBA.
I kept that in mind when I returned
to Seychelles and looked at the
possibilities here. I prefer to do things
differently because I like to stand out
from the crowd and avoid copying.
When it comes to economies of scale,
one can decide to follow suit, which
is what almost everyone is doing in
Seychelles right now. If so, you would
need to reduce the price to attract
customers. I decided against that
and leaned more in the direction of
innovation. It implies that one develops
a brand-new, distinctive product.
The difficulty in doing this is that the
market does not necessarily exist, if
that is the case, you have to create it.
To create a such market you need brand
recognition,” explains Nancy.
The degree to which a consumer can
correctly identify a specific good or
service only by looking at its logo,
tagline, packaging, or marketing
campaign is known as brand recognition.
It is a notion used in marketing and
advertising.
“You do fail occasionally. I experienced
a few failures. I had to make a few
adjustments and changes to a few
businesses along the route. The final
product that you see is frequently not
the original concept. However, you
persist and push through; discipline is
the key”.
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p11
Wilson posing for his graduation picture
Nancy has accumulated information
from years of experience and market
experimentation, which he frequently
shares with entrepreneurs looking to
start their businesses.
“The difficulty of obtaining a loan is
one obstacle that we do face locally
when trying to start a business. However,
one experiences the sorrow of losing
that money if they establish a business
with their savings. Since it is your hard-
earned money, you will undoubtedly
work harder to succeed. When it
comes to the local business climate, it
has altered. It now encourages a hard
work ethic and stresses that success
requires effort. It mandates more and
guarantees that companies comply
with the requirements.
Nancy brought up several thought-
provoking issues, among them the rich
local diversity that only needs fresh
approaches. According to him, we
must truly take the time to consider
what we have nearby and how we may
sustainably make the most of it. The
businessman’s final piece of advice
is to maintain financial discipline,
saying that doing so is essential for
the expansion and success of your
company. Spending carelessly will only
harm your company. Avoid negativity,
which frequently contributes to the
downfall of your company and often
requires that you maintain a low profile.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p12
OZORDI DIMANS | HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Erectile dysfunction
and Diabetes: Take
control today
COMPILED BY G.P
I
f there’s one taboo subject among men, and one
that is certainly off the table when women are
around, it’s ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION.
But the fact is that, as true as the sun sets and rises,
what rises and sets in men, AND women, is as natural
as human life was ever intended to be, and shouldn’t
be embarrassing to talk about.
And no special issue such as one we’re dedicating
to Men’s Health today, would be complete without it.
If it hasn’t happened it will happen and if you’re in
a healthy family, talk to your spouse and teenagers
about it.
Erectile dysfunction is a common problem for men
who have diabetes — but it’s not inevitable. Con-
sider prevention strategies, treatment options and
more.
Erectile dysfunction — the inability to get or main-
tain an erection firm enough for sex — is common in
men who have diabetes, especially those with type 2
diabetes.
It can stem from damage to nerves and blood ves-
sels caused by poor long-term blood sugar control.
Erectile dysfunction can also be linked to other con-
ditions common in men with diabetes, such as high
blood pressure and heart disease. Erectile dysfunc-
tion might occur earlier in men with diabetes than in
men without the disease. Difficulty maintaining an
erection might even precede the diabetes diagnosis.
Having erectile dysfunction can be a real challenge.
It can leave you and your partner feeling frustrated
and discouraged. Take steps to cope with erectile
dysfunction — and get your sex life back on track.
Talk to an expert
Many men are reluctant to discuss erectile dysfunc-
tion with their doctors. But don’t let embarrassment
keep you from getting help. One small conversation
can make a big difference. Here’s what to do:
• Tell your doctor what’s going on. Your doctor will
consider underlying causes of your erectile dysfunc-
tion and can give you information about medication
and other erectile dysfunction treatments. Find out
your options.
• Ask if there’s anything you can do to better man-
age your diabetes. Improving your blood sugar levels
can help prevent nerve and blood vessel damage that
can lead to erectile dysfunction. You’ll also feel bet-
ter overall and improve your quality of life. Ask your
doctor if you’re taking the right steps to manage your
diabetes.
• Ask about other health problems. It’s common for
men with diabetes to have other chronic conditions
that can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. Work
with your doctor to make sure you’re addressing any
other health problems.
• Check your medications. Ask your doctor if you’re
taking any medications that might be worsening your
erectile problems, such as drugs used to treat depres-
sion or high blood pressure. Making a change to your
medications might help.
• Seek counseling. Anxiety and stress can make
erectile dysfunction worse. Erectile dysfunction can
also have a negative impact on your relationship with
your intimate partner. A psychologist, counselor or
other mental health specialist can help you and your
partner find ways to cope.
Consider your treatment options
A number of erectile dysfunction treatments are
available. Ask your doctor if one of these may be a
good choice for you:
• Oral medications. Erectile dysfunction medica-
tions include sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis, Ad-
circa), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) or avanafil (Sten-
dra). These pills can help ease blood flow to your
penis, making it easier to get and keep an erection.
• Other medications. If pills aren’t a good option
for you, your doctor might recommend a tiny sup-
pository you insert into the tip of your penis before
sex. Another possibility is medication you inject into
the base or side of your penis. Like oral medications,
these drugs increase blood flow that helps you get
and maintain an erection.
• Vacuum-constriction device. This device, also
called a penis pump or a vacuum pump, is a hollow
tube you put over your penis. It uses a pump to draw
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p13
blood into your penis to create an erection.
A band placed at the base of the penis maintains
the erection after the tube is removed. This hand- or
battery-powered device is simple to operate and has
a low risk of problems.
If a vacuum-constriction device is a good treatment
choice for you, your doctor might recommend or pre-
scribe a specific model. That way, you can be sure it
suits your needs and that it’s made by a reputable
manufacturer.
• Penile implants. In cases where medications or
a penis pump won’t work, a surgical penis implant
might be an option. Semirigid or inflatable penile im-
plants are a safe and effective option for many men
with erectile dysfunction.
Certainly not least: Make good life-
style choices early
Don’t underestimate the difference a few changes
can make. Try these approaches to improve erectile
dysfunction and your overall health:
• Stop smoking. Tobacco use, including smoking,
narrows your blood vessels, which can lead to or
worsen erectile dysfunction. Smoking can also de-
crease levels of the chemical nitric oxide, which sig-
nals your body to allow blood flow to your penis.
If you’ve tried to quit on your own but couldn’t,
don’t give up — ask for help. There are a number of
strategies to help you quit, including medications.
• Lose excess pounds. Being overweight can cause
— or worsen — erectile dysfunction.
• Include physical activity in your daily routine. Ex-
ercise can help with underlying conditions that play
a part in erectile dysfunction in a number of ways, in-
cluding reducing stress, helping you lose weight and
increasing blood flow.
• Limit or cut out alcohol. Excess alcohol can con-
tribute to erectile dysfunction. If you choose to drink
alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that
means up to one drink a day for men older than age
65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and
younger.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p14
OZORDI DIMANS | HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Men’s Health going through a silent unspoken crisis
“With everything involving men, I would like women to get involved. Why? Because he could be your boyfriend,
husband or son and he needs your support”, urges Dr. Gopal.
Dr. Joshua Gopal (Senior Medical Officer)
I
recently had the opportunity to speak
with two key health professionals - Dr.
Joshua Gopal (Senior Medical Officer) and
Joel Edmond (Senior Health Promotion Of-
ficer) who were instrumental in the recent
Men’s Health Clinic at the SOPD-Yellow Roof
to mark International Men’s Day and Men’s
Health Awareness Month - November.
According to Dr. Gopal, about 70 men at-
tended the widely publicized event, a sig-
nificant increase from the drive last year.
“We began at 8am, and the doors were
scheduled to be closed at 1pm. But by 10.30
a.m., we were quite overwhelmed, and we
had to close the doors because we had too
many patients inside who were yet to be ex-
amined,” said Dr. Gopal.
Dr. Gopal was one of two doctors who fo-
cused on screening and raising awareness
of hypertension, diabetes, and prostate dis-
ease.
The vitals - blood pressure and blood sugar
levels—were tested, and screening for pros-
tate disease was strongly encouraged for
men 50 years of age and older.
Forms were issued to patients so they
could complete them and get ready for
blood tests, which they were advised to
conduct at their clinics within the districts.
Results of tests for prostate-specific antigen
are available in 4-6 weeks.
“Previously, we used a finger for screening,
but we now use blood screening, stated Dr.
Gopal, further noting that blood tests are
useful in cancer screening, treatment, and
prognosis.
Various screenings for diabetes and hyper-
tension were also carried out.
Dr. Gopal added that unless a patient in-
quired, there was no component of mental
wellness counselling, when I asked if this
services was also offered. But why, when
mental health has become an issue we can
no longer put in the back bench? Did no pa-
tient come in particularly for therapy?
Currently, usual therapy for most patients
with Diabetes and Hypertension is life-
style and pharmacological interventions.
In recent decades, a holistic approach has
been widely accepted around the world as a
method of treatment for diabetes and other
diseases.
What space, then, does the Ministry of
Health provide for complementary or holis-
tic medicine to coexist with allopathic care
in order to improve patient’s wellbeing?
“Well, as far as I know, we are not into ho-
listic medicine,” said Dr. Gopal. It’s an ex-
BY CHRISTINE OUMA
cellent question, he added, because some
patients ask their doctors, “Doctor, can I use
this kind of medicine in addition to my cur-
rent medication?” he said.
“Unfortunately, we don’t study this kind of
medicine so we do not have the evidence to
say, it will work for this condition, or it can
work alongside your current medication.
“So, we tend to advise against using holis-
tic medicine alongside western medicine.
Unless you say you have concrete evidence
that it does work for you. For us to say, yes
this is going to work better, this we cannot
say,” explained Dr. Gopal.
Joel Edmond, a senior health promotion
officer, noted that alternative medicine is
not strictly regulated, with Dr. Gopal adding
that, in contrast to holistic practices, western
medicine is widely popular in Seychelles.
Is there room for improvement? I ques-
tioned the two healthcare practitioners. Dr.
Gopal was prompted to respond by stating
that practitioners of holistic medicine such
as Pascal Chang Leng do exist.
Dr. Gopal added that many of the patients
he has met report having positive outcomes
after taking this type of treatment, so per-
haps future collaborations can be looked
into, he said.
Mr. Edmond pointed out that a regulatory
body will need to be established in order for
this collaboration to happen.
Food and lifestyle
My next question was how much im-
portance of what the Ministry of Health
preached to the men, should they attach to
the importance of food and lifestyle?
“Number 1, very important,” responded Dr.
Gopal. “Prevention always comes first, and
the main goal of health promotion is to pro-
mote preventive medicine prior to curative
care. Any healthy lifestyle should start with
a balanced diet and regular exercise.”
The Public Health Authority and the Min-
istry of Health work hand in hand with the
Nutrition Unit to provide continuing health
promotions. According to Mr. Edmond, the
goal of the newest project, workplace well-
being, is to encourage employees to practice
healthy eating both at work and at home.
This initiative was started in 2018. How-
ever, due to disruptions caused by the Co-
vid-19 pandemic, it has just been re-en-
forced.
As earlier indicated, it is not often that two
health professionals are in the same room
Mr. Joel Edmond (Senior Health Promotion Officer)
for an interview, so I decided to make the
most of the interview. “Ask questions,” my
editor had urged me as we prepared for the
interview.
What information are you disseminating
to both men and women regarding erec-
tile dysfunction, a serious issue for men?, I
posed.
Dr. Gopal concurred that there is a taboo
surrounding the topic. The doctor stated,
“having a tattoo is no longer a taboo but
talking about erectile dysfunction is still a
taboo. Is it because men have pride?”
“Actually, we have just started talking
openly about it this year. Last year, we were
just focusing on prostate health. This year,
when I went to the Police station to have a
talk, it came out as a topic that many people
have questions and concerns about it.
Dr. Gopal believes that a proper men’s
sexual health clinic is required to treat cas-
es like erectile dysfunction, but Seychelles
does not currently have one yet. Although
they have in the past assisted some patients
with this problem by administering the blue
pill—Viagra. He continued by noting that
there is also a need for a professional for
this kind of clinic.
“I’ve seen a few people with this issue,
and the main worry is that the majority of
these cases are brought on by psychological
problems like stress, work-related issues to
name a few,” he said.
Only the SOPD-Department has the au-
thority to dispense Viagra in Seychelles. The
drug is however available at pharmacies
across the nation, but Dr. Gopal advises that
you visit a doctor before using it because
the various concentrations of the drug can
be lethal and can cause stroke or heart at-
tack to mention a few.
In this view, Mr. Edmond agreed that this is
a subject that needs more public awareness
with possible target groups ranging from 25
- 64 years although a wider age group can
also be reached through social media plat-
forms, which have become pivotal in dis-
semination of information.
Dr. Gopal further explained that, erectile
dysfunction causes problems in relation-
ships and marriages with 90% of the pa-
tients noting that the condition disrupts the
fabric of the family.
“And everything involving men, I want
women to get involved. Why? Because It
could be your boyfriend, husband or son
and they need support,” he asserted.
These revelations begged the question,
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p15
how are men looked after at the hospital in
general?
“We do not have a screening package for
men, maybe this is something to consider,”
Dr. Gopal posed to the Senior Health Promo-
tion Officer.
“It is in the pipeline, has been budgeted
for but awaiting approval. Once the primary
health care package is in place, men’s health
programmes will have more direct focus,”
answered Mr. Edmond.
Returning to the initial question, Dr. Go-
pal pointed out that, while both men and
women receive equal care, there are organi-
zations, such as the Cancer Concern Associa-
tion, whose existence has proven to aid in
the efforts to raise awareness about Breast
Cancer, which primarily affects women.
Mr. Edmond reaffirmed, “the support from
outside definitely helps create more aware-
ness.” He continued, “Even Breast Cancer
Awareness Month is more prominent,” stat-
ing that the Ministry of Health established
Men’s Health Awareness Month to advance
men’s health awareness too. They both hope
that men’s health receives more awareness
one day, further calling on men to come out
and help do more lobbying.
A message to the general public
Dr. Gopal- We have a lot of mental prob-
lems-men or women. We are all pillars of
the society but we feel that sometimes the
men’s health side is a bit neglected. Either
because of the system or men do not want
to come forward. If you come forward, we,
as the professionals will do our part to help
you. If you feel that you have an issue that
you’d like to address, come forward and we
will help you.
Mr. Edmond- Prevention is better than
cure. So aside from taking care of your
health through healthy eating and regular
exercise, screening forms part of preven-
tion. We encourage you to seek the neces-
sary services available to seek help.
Finally, all the participants who visited the
men’s clinic received a questionnaire aimed
at helping the Ministry of Health improve
men’s health services.
“Once we analyse their comments, we will
come up with better informed programmes
for men,” added Mr. Edmond. To note, those
questionnaires will also be distributed to
various workplaces with large concentration
on men.
OZORDI DIMANS | HEALTH AND WELLNESS
NO MAN IS AN ISLAND
UNTO HIMSELF
M
en experience depression,
anxiety, and suicidal thoughts
and urge just like women do,
yet they are much less likely to seek
therapy than women.
When it comes to going to therapy to
optimize life, work out some issues, or
all the other things that therapy can
do, many guys have reasons for not
going.
Lots of reasons. Like, there’s nothing
wrong with me, I can’t do therapy—I’m
the guy who is supposed to have my
shit together, going to therapy means
I’m weak, they’re gonna sit there and
judge me. I’m not paying for that, I
have alcohol for that, I am scared… the
list goes on.
But what are the circumstances or
causes for which males in our culture
would require assistance or therapy?
Robert Ah Weng, a counselor, and
educator provide his thoughts and
expertise on this hot subject.
“To get a background, I am going to
start by listing down the things men
face in Seychelles today: domestic
violence, addiction to alcohol or
other substances, relationship issues,
sexual identity and expression
issues, values crisis (success, fame,
material comfort, family values crisis,
parenting, health; physical, emotional
and mental health), machismo (strong
or aggressive masculine pride),
criminality, lack of ambition, for some-
over ambition making us crash anyone
who may seem to block our way,
anxiety and stress just to name a few.
These are some of the things that
threaten our men’s wholesomeness
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p16
BY CHRISTINE OUMA
and thus the need for counseling. fight a lot. They express themselves circumstances and challenges. They
As men, first of all, we are human through gestures. This goes on into are there to make us grow but we
beings. All human beings, through our adulthood because men tend to hide cannot grow in isolation.
journey of life, go through different under the machismo attitude. They are We grow best when we have
circumstances; we can get lonely, men outside but inside they are weak relationships with others. However, it
afraid, anxious… you name them. We and meson. They remain emotional is those very relationships that often
all have natural human emotions and children inside. challenge us the most to grow and
so we need help just like others. Also, there is this question of image. mature into fuller persons.
That a man cannot be weak, and Everyone has both capacities and
Why is it hard for men to if they are weak, they sort limitations. And our limitations
seek therapy? out their weakness with are most challenged when we are
a manly action, like most in need. We are all emotional
In my view, there drinking heavily. beings. Denying or suppressing our
is a cultural It is absurd that feelings will not do anyone any good.
practice that has a man drinking Expressing our feelings is necessary
been around heavily is okay for our health. However, we must
for a long time, but a man learn to express ourselves in none
regarding expressing distractive ways; either to ourselves
how we raise t h e i r or to others.
our boys. emotions is In Seychelles, it has long been a
As a boy, viewed as harmful cultural practice in the way
traditionally weak. boys often were raised. For example,
speaking, They ask boys must control their emotions, and
you grow themselves not cry, otherwise, they are considered
up not to cry questions “sissies”.
and to at least like, ‘what will This sometimes has led to boys
from crying as other men think not being able to own and express
much as you can. of me if I go for their feelings appropriately, leading
‘They say, you are counseling,’ they to distorting and creating men who
a boy you need to think ‘I can’t deal think they are physically strong and
be strong because with my problems, can impose on others whilst in reality
you are going to become forgetting that no man is being weak in emotion.
a man. an Island unto himself. Counseling or therapy is available,
I think this denial or suppression through family affairs, schools,
of natural emotions and feelings Take away social services, non-governmental
leads to our boys not being in touch organizations, religious settings, the
with their feelings. Yes, they feel them As human beings, we live in a private sector and even just talking
but they do not own their emotions. It community. We all need others at between ourselves. Let us use the
then becomes very difficult to express different stages of our lives. On available help to become better
such emotions. the journey of life, each of us faces beings for ourselves and the people
For example, in schools, boys tend to our fair share of specific personal around us.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p17
OZORDI DIMANS | GEARS AND GADGETS
The iconic
Mercedes-Benz W210
BY U-ROY JULES
T
he Mercedes-Benz W210 was the
internal designation for a range
of executive cars manufactured
by Mercedes-Benz and marketed under
the W-Class model name in both sedan/
saloon (1995-2002) and station wagon
(1996-2003) configurations.
The W210 was designed by Steve
Mattin under the design chief
Bruno Sacco between 1988 and
1991 later being previewed on
the 1993 Coupé Concept shown
at the Geneva Auto Show in
March.
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p18
Today Ozordi Dimans presents you the
only modified Mercedes-Benz e210 on
our small island, belonging to Christ
Anderson
“I’m the owner of the famous Mercedes-
Benz W210, which has been swapped
with a Jz rebuild engine along with a
haltech ECU”, he said.
Christ is a car mechanic by profession
and he is very passionate about modified
cars.
“I wish we could have more support in
regards to getting a place to demonstrate
our work”, he added.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p19
OZORDI DIMANS | BEAUTY AND STYLE
The UNISEX struggle of curly hair
S
o, let’s get to it. I adore having
curly hair and wouldn’t swap it
for anything. Having said that,
there are times-usually on wash
days-when I mutter, “This would be so
much easier if it were bone straight.”
I’m positive I’m not the only one
that thinks in this way. In contrast to
what the natural hair movement says
about loving your natural hair, what
they conveniently omit is the daily
struggle that comes with having nat-
ural hair.
You will simply have to put up with
certain things if you want to be natu-
ral. When it comes down to it, healthy,
gorgeous hair is well worth the cost.
There will be good days and bad
days, hair setbacks and accomplish-
ments. You’ve probably dealt with
one or more of these hair issues, but
don’t worry—you’re not the only one!
Tangles
No matter how much coconut oil I
apply (which is a very effective de-
tangler, by the way) or how much I
BY CHRISTOPHE ZIALOR
stretch my hair, it still decides to tan-
gle up on itself. I’ve discovered that
finger detangling every night is the
only way to ensure that by the end of
the week, I’m not stuck with a hot tan-
gled mess to decipher for 2+ hours.
Single stranded knots
Some things just come with the ter-
ritory of being natural and SSKs (sin-
gle stranded knots) are certainly one
of them. Stretching the hair helps but
every now and then you’ll probably
still find a few. They’re pesky little
things but be comforted by the fact
that you aren’t suffering alone.
Boredom
Every now and then, you’ll get the
itch- and that itch probably means
you’re bored with your hair and ready
for a change. Be careful that respond-
ing to that itch doesn’t result in some
reckless haircut or dye job.
Shedding
From hairballs to tiny clusters of
curls all over the floor, it seems like
our natural hair just wants to be ev-
erywhere. But hey, that’s what hair
stoppers and vacuum cleaners are
for.
Hair envy
If you’ve never once thought, “I wish
I had her hair!” then applause for you.
It’s totally normal to have felt like
you wanted to trade your curls in for
someone else’s before. When it’s all
said and done, we all have to learn to
love what grows from our own scalps
(it’s beautiful).
Product junkie-ism
I mean… who doesn’t love products?
Experimenting with products is one
of the best parts about being natural,
but be careful that you aren’t com-
promising the health of your hair in
the process.
Frustration
Natural hair… can’t live with it, can’t
live without it. Your hair may drive
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p20
you insane sometimes but just imag-
ine if you woke up and it was perma-
nently straight? #alwaysbethankful.
People just don’t under-
stand
Not everyone is going to love your
hair. They may think you just hopped
on the bandwagon and are still wait-
ing for the day when you hop off. You
could spend the next 30 minutes of
your day trying to explain it to them…
or go home and detangle.
The quest for moisture
To be honest, I don’t think it’s even
scientifically possible for my hair to
go into moisture overload. After co-
washing, deep conditioning, drench-
ing my hair in aloe vera juice, and do-
ing the LOC/LCO/LOCO method, my
hair might still feel dry the next day.
Sigh.
Shrinkage
Had to save the best for last!
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p21
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p22
OZORDI DIMANS | DESIGN AND DECOR
And if there was the perfect office chair
M
any of us work up to 40 hours
per week in the office, and the
majority of that time is spent
seated at desks, where we rely heavily
on the ergonomics of our go-to office
chair.
This length of time spent in a subpar
chair can result in a variety of issues
in both the short and long term. In
this post, we’ll talk about how having
a comfortable office chair may keep
us at work feeling happy, healthy, and
productive.
Here are some benefits of investing in
a good office chair
Improves Communication and
Collaboration
The innovative mechanics of a modern,
ergonomic office chair, allow team
members to move around the office
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p23
COMPILED BY CHRISTOPHE ZIALOR
with ease and freedom. This means
easier communication and collaboration
between desks, but also the chairs can
be easily wheeled into meeting rooms
for quick catch ups and brainstorms.
Encourages Good Posture
Office chairs are equipped with
numerous features to ensure the user
doesn’t suffer from any lasting strains
or injuries. Adjustable height, lumbar
support and high-quality material are
all characteristics of good office chairs
and play an important role in keeping us
sitting correctly at work.
Poor posture can lead to neck, back,
shoulder and leg strain, which can lead to
low morale and additional health costs.
Maintaining good posture and staying
free from aches and pains helps us show Improves Comfortability No one can work at their best while
better endurance and concentration battling with aches and pains day in
during long hours in the office. Modern chairs are designed with and day out.
features that allow employees to adjust
the chair to meet their individual needs, The ergonomic design of good office
meaning everyone in the office can sit chairs help accommodate every
comfortably. employee’s individual requirements,
keeping them comfortable and
Poor quality chairs might be a good productive during working hours.
fit for some but not well suited for
others, meaning half of the office Promises a Longer Lifespan
is uncomfortable throughout their
day at work. Comfortability brings a Buying a good office chair brings the
whole host of benefits. For example, it benefit of a longer lifespan and less
increases motivation and morale while maintenance than a cheaper alternative.
reducing distractions. Not only is regularly replacing broken
chairs an unnecessary cost, it is also an
Creates a Productive Working inconvenience for both employee and
Environment employer.
We have touched on this already but In short, a good quality office chair
providing good office chairs helps foster makes a worthy investment and helps
a productive working environment. everyone enjoy their day at work better.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p24
 OZORDI DIMANS | LEISURE AND ADVENTURE Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p25

Let us take a tour at the Seychelles Tea Factory

BY U-ROY JULES the Island. In the cool mountain air of addition to getting a great view of the
Morne Blanc, surrounded by terraces region. Purchase one of the many vari-

E
stablished in 1962, the tea factory
is dedicated to the cultivation and
production of tea on our small is-
land.
The factory producing the brand
‘SeyTe’ is situated in the hills of Morne
Blanc, in the western Mahe district of
Port Glaud, and is currently being man-
aged by the Seychelles Trading Com-
pany (STC).
From there you have a great pan-
oramic view of the western slopes
of Mahé, making it undoubtedly one
of the most beautiful viewpoints on
with tea plants, you will experience
firsthand how Seychelles tea is made.
A working operation with fine views,
the tea factory offers free guided tours
that allow visitors to see the entire tea-
making process, from picking and dry-
ing to packing and shipping.
A visit to the ‘SeyTe’ tea factory al-
lows you to take in the invigorating and
refreshing mountain air while ascend-
ing the tea plantation terraces, provid-
ing a very memorable experience. You
can watch the tealeaf move through
each stage before it reaches the cup, in
ous flavors of aromatic teas available
as a souvenir or a gift for a loved one
on the way back.
What is ‘SeyTe’ and where can I buy
it?
‘SeyTe’ Tea is a famous tea brand in
Seychelles, sold in supermarkets in se-
lection boxes and beautiful packets. It
is also available at Whole Sale Points
in Praslin, La Digue, and Mahe, in addi-
tion to duty-free shops and departure
lounges. The popularly tasty tea comes
in a variety of flavors, including Vanilla,
Citronelle, and Island Tea.
 OZORDI DIMANS | TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p26

The thing about Brazil

B
razil has won 5 World Cup games,
making it the most successful na-
tion overall. With 224 goals, they
have also scored the most goals in
tournament history.
After a 20-year drought, could this be
Brazil’s chance to win another World
Cup? Or will a different team take first
place?
With the country being the favourite
at taking the cup home, here are a few
world cup facts about Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro Is Not The Capital City
It was the capital city until 1960. Af-
ter that, the capital was moved to Bra-
sília in the middle of Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro City is now known as
the capital of the state of Rio de Ja-
neiro.
Spanish Is Not The Widely Spoken
Second Language Or Native Language
Many tourists that arrive in Brazil are
under the false impression that if they
know a bit of Spanish they will be fine,
yet Portuguese is the official language
in this country. However, most Brazil-
ians learn Spanish and English due to
the requirements of the business in-
dustries.
While Portuguese and Spanish may
be fairly similar, this does not mean
that speaking Spanish will automati-
cally make travelling around Brazil
easier.
In addition, the English language is
not widely spoken. However, some
residents in São Paulo along with a few
of the more popular tourist’s destina-
tions in Rio de Janeiro know how to
speak English.
If you want to impress a few of the
locals, learn a few of the Portuguese
expressions.
Beer Is Always Served In Small Glass-
es
All over Brazil, most of the places that
serve beer will do so in smaller glass-
es that are usually smaller than the
½ pint glasses. The idea behind this
makes sense as most areas in Brazil ex-
perience heat that is extreme, and the
larger glasses warm up faster.
In the bars, the beer is typically
served in the 600ml large bottles
served with a smaller glass that you
can drink from, or in a chopp, which is
draft beer served in small glasses.
A Green Man At A Crossing Does Not
Always Mean That It Is Safe To Cross
When in Brazil, always wait for ev-
ery car to stop completely before you
decide to cross a road, regardless of
whether there is a green man telling
you are allowed to cross.
It’s common for cars to start speeding
up from far away when the light has
turned orange and then skip through
these lights once they have turned red,
which really annoys the drivers from
the other junctions.
This may be classified as a general
safety rule, but skipping red lights is so
common in Brazil that it is something
you need to be aware of.
Brazil Makes Really Good Wine
The wines from France, South Africa
and France might not need to be too
concerned about new competition
anytime soon, but the Brazilian wines,
particularly the sparkling varieties like
the Brut Champenoise which comes involve tourists usually involve non-vi-
from the south of Brazil are excep- olent pick-pocketing or muggings, but
tionally good. They also have a few in most cases, tourists usually do not
outstanding reds and wonderful rosés, encounter these issues. It is still wise
which originate from local wineries to practice precautions in the main ur-
based in Minas Gerais and Rio de Ja- ban areas like Salvador, Recife, and Rio
neiro. de Janeiro, and safeguard your belong-
You should definitely pay a visit to ings
the Winehouse and Canastra in Rio
de Janeiro so that you can sample the
best of the best Brazilian wines. Canas-
tra, which is French-owned, only sells
Brazilian wines, while Winehouse sells
both Brazilian and national wines.
Brazil Is Usually Safe For Tourists But
You Have To Be Always Very Careful
Brazil is one of the least safest coun-
tries in South America and renowned
for the bad press when it comes to vio-
lence, crime, and their higher murder
numbers.
However, the reality behind these
statistics is mainly to do with the crim-
inal activities between the gangs that
are based far away from tourist desti-
nations.
In general, Brazil is relatively safe for
visitors and tourists. The scenarios that

Wine made in Brazil

OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p27
OZORDI DIMANS | NATURE Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p28

The male Coco de Mer

W
hen discussing this extraordinary plant, the female Coco de Mer with its distinctive
shape frequently takes center stage. However, the male plant is just as important.
Unlike other Seychelles palms, the male and female flowers of the Coco de Mer are
borne on separate trees. The male flowers are the longest male flowers in the world and re-
semble catkins. They can grow up to 1 meter long.

Because the Coco de Mer is dioecious, it has two genders, just as people do. The long, phal-
lic-shaped flower protrusions on the male coco de Mer plants can be used to identify them.

Researchers from ETH Zürich and the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) have published
a study that sheds light on some of the riddles surrounding coco de Mer trees’ ability to tell
their sexes apart.

The ratio of adult females to adult males is skewed in most wild populations; for example,
there are much more females than males in the palm-forested regions of Fond Ferdinand and
Praslin National Park than there are males in the Vallée de Mai.
This fascinating new study demonstrates that sex determination in coco de Mer is geneti-
cally determined as opposed to environmental. The first of numerous likely explanations for
the biased sex ratios in adult populations is human influence. None of the populations where
Coco de Mer grows are entirely in a natural state, and unprotected areas may have experi-
enced higher rates of selective felling of one sex over the other: either females were felled for
their allegedly superior wood or females were preserved for the valuable nuts they produced.

The Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) recently conducted a marking exercise of male Coco
de Mer trees at the Fond Ferdinand reserve on Praslin, demonstrating its stable population.

The unusual palm and its fruits are the subjects of several stories and legends.
As the story goes, the trees merged and fell in love when it was stormy, late at night, and the
streets were deserted. The story was invented because the male and female fruit are compa-
rable to amorous forms. They warned individuals who witnessed the process that they might
go blind or even pass away.

The Maldives were once thought to be the birthplace of Coco de Mer and it was believed that
the king owned the fruits. Those who attempted to conceal a discovery were punished, with
some even losing their hands.

Another myth holds that Eve handed Adam a forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden called
Coco de Mer, which is grown in Seychelles. When British Major-General Charles George Gor-
don arrived in the Seychelles islands in 1881, he had the notion after observing a particular
erotic variation of Coco de Mer.

According to legend, Malayan sailors witnessed the fruits rising directly from the seabed.
People believed that coco de Mer grew underwater and that the Garuda, a sacred bird, called
its tree home.
The flowering catkin of Coco-de-mer gives off a distinct smell resembling that of ‘basmati
rice, a familiar smell along the Mont-Fleuri road just at the entrance of the botanical garden.
The Giant Bronze Gecko can often be seen feasting on the catkin, making for a beautiful
photo.
The story of the male and female lovers meeting secretly at night adds a tinge of excitement
to the mysterious and unique forms of the plants however that is not possible. Research is still
being done to pin down the main pollinator of Coco de Mer.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p29
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p30
OZORDI DIMANS | FOOD AND DRINKS
BY CHRISTOPHE ZIALOR
J
apan gave Germany a crushing defeat
Wednesday night by winning 2-1.
Today they will be playing against
Cameroon so we are bringing you the
national dish of the two countries.
Japanese Curry
I’m sure we all know that the Japanese
love their sushi, but did you know that
one of their national dishes is also curry?
Pickled Japanese Scallion
World Cup Eats
In Japan, curry is considered to be a
popular national dish for both home
cooking and eating out. The hot and
spicy nature of this dish draws people
to eat it day after day. Today, we’ll be in-
troducing you to the one and only, Japa-
nese curry.
Countries all over the world have their
own curry, but Japanese curry is a little
unique. For Japanese curry, it is common
to cook the meat, potatoes, carrots, and
the spring onion along with the curry
Japanese Curry
to give a thick and sticky texture. After-
ward, the curry will be boiled using high
temperature and poured onto the rice.
A combination of curry and white rice is
unmatched.
The curry also goes well with all sorts
of topping such as pork cutlets, eggs, etc.
Choosing what topping to have with the
curry is a joy in itself.
Furthermore Japanese curry uses
chutneys, pickled Japanese scallion,
Sunday 27 November, 2022
and pickled daikon with eggplants as
garnishes. They are perfect when eaten
alongside curry rice.
Not only that, curry is also used as
stuffing for bread and deep-fried to
make curry bread; creating a snack with
different flavors of curry.
Ndolé from Cameroon
Ndole – Is an aromatic Cameroonian
spinach stew made of spinach and
Ndolé
| p31
bitter leaves – flavored with garlic,
crayfish and fortified with shrimp and
beef. Comfort food at its best.
A combination of peanuts, bitter
leaves (substitute spinach), meat
(stock fish, shrimp,) crayfish (dried
shrimp) and oil. It tastes like stew
spinach dip, but even better! With
aromatic spices and meat. Can be pre-
pared in so many ways with more or
less vegetables and meat depending
on personal taste.
OZORDI DIMANS | FOOD AND DRINKS Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p32
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p33
OZORDI DIMANS | ART AND CRAFT
The Big Draw 2022 - Seychelles
Coming Back to Colour… but with the
added attraction of motion
A student assembling the circles with the help of an art
teacher
BY CHRISTINE OUMA
A
rterial Network Seychelles has taken part in the interna-
tional Big Draw event for the past six years to promote
drawing with a different theme each year.
This year as with other years, they followed the brief given by
the Big Draw charity, a theme of “Coming Back to Colour” but
with a twist…the added attraction of motion, explains Shelley
Morden - Gallery Manager, Eden Art Space.
The theme for the 2022 Big Draw Festival is explained to be a
love letter to the world and to one another. After a difficult few
years, the subject captures what we all hope will be a rediscov-
ery of the vitality, health, care, and vibrancy in everyone’s life.
“The devastating effects of the pandemic on everyone across
the world have been succeeded by even more fundamen-
tal fears which underline the need, more than ever before, to
nurture and cherish the places where joy, colour, and freedom
thrive, and celebrate this,” as noted in the Big Draw website.
“Lockdown stopped play in Seychelles in many ways, and the
same the world over. It was time to release the heaviness we’ve
been through and celebrate our colouful world,” adds Shelley.
“We wanted something light, bright and eye catching, so we
created a curtain with circles of card suspended from invisible
lines. Each template circle is populated with a colourful piece
of art from our young artists, and the collaboration makes up
our fabulous ‘curtain of colour’.
Four schools are participating this year; Students from SIAD,
Plaisance Secondary, International School, and Independent
School were invited to transpose their thoughts and feelings
regarding the 2020 Big Draw theme.
“Each coloured circle is a wonderful piece of art, drawing from
the abundant nature around us,” remarks Shelley as she encour-
ages everyone to visit the Eden Art Space Gallery and see this
wonderful collection which was assembled on Saturday 19th of
November by representatives from each school who got togeth-
er at the Eden Art Space Gallery.
Students and teachers pose for a souvenir photo after the installation
Omera Mathieu has been participating in the Big Draw
since its inception
Generally, one of Arterial Network’s mission is to encourage
drawing as a basic practice for art. “The Big Draw allows us to
do that alongside many other organisations around the world,
and for charity.”
“So, whilst encouraging our young artists to practice the ba-
sics, we archive their works and display them on the Big Draw
website, to promote Seselwa artists,” she asserts.
The students who participated are as follows:
International school also took part.
Karishma Sundaram, Shanun Julienne. Emily Jupiter, Merissa
Lafortune, Caryse Houreau, Ishmaella Lucas,Omera Mathieu,
and Donyelle Mancienne.
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p34
A young girl installing the artwork
PLAISANCE Secondary
Elfa Cupidon, Kiella Labrosse, Angelika Gerry, Vince Anna,
Gael Esparon, Luigi Beavogui, Jean Kristof Pool, Emmanuel Pool,
Kientre Jean, and Laurent Mien.
SIAD
Angela Marzocchi, Elisha Barbe, Megan Confait, Shakim Loi-
seau, Yann Dinan, Ella Laljee, Salome Abel, Nelly Ding, Steffie
Zoe, and Felicia Kessen-Ndah.
INTERNATIONAL School
Darnel Vincent, Dilakshana Gunaseelam, Marla Sinon, Zoe
Barker, Alisa Pepelina, Alisha Ajay, Anais MacGaw, Emma Jesic,
Jasmine Bibi, and Ashira Hallock.
About The Big Draw
Founded in 2000, The Big Draw is a visual literacy charity that
promotes the universal language of drawing as a tool for learn-
ing, expression, and invention. It is a charity that leads a diverse
programme of advocacy, empowerment, and engagement, and
is the founder and driving force behind the annual ‘Big Draw
Festival’ – the world’s biggest celebration of drawing.
The Big Draw Festival has encouraged over four million people
back to the drawing board since 2000. It has notched up two
world records – for the longest drawing in the world (one kilo-
metre) and the greatest number of people drawing simultane-
ously (over 7,000). The first Big Draw Festival in 2000 attracted
180 partner organisations. Since then, the number has risen to
more than 1,000, with over 500,000 people participating each
year!
The Festival is made up of thousands of creative events, activi-
ties, and workshops across the globe hosted by organisations
big and small; from individuals to entire cities!
Indepth info regarding the Big Draw project can be obtained
from their website - https://thebigdraw.org
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p35
OZORDI DIMANS | EDUCATION
Here’s what happens to your body when you
cut out alcohol for 30 days
COMPILED BY U-ROY JULES
S
eybrew, Eku, Tag, Heineken, Carlsberg,
Phoenix, are some of the beers currently
being sold in our country.
We are a population that likes to drink beer,
and currently, we are in the World Cup fever,
and more of us will consume more alcohol
while watching football matches.
However, if we try to cut out alcohol for 30
days, what will happens to our bodies?
• Cutting out alcohol if you drink in excess
can bring about health benefits for your liver,
heart, and body composition.
• Alcohol consumption has been linked to
cancers of the head, neck, esophagus, liver,
breast, colon, and rectum.
Many people turn to Dry January as a moti-
vator to start the New Year alcohol-free. But
while abstaining from alcohol for a month
might seem like a trendy, short-term New
Year’s resolution, there are several health ben-
efits that come with it.
So maybe by now, you are thinking about tak-
ing a break from drinking for a bit, but need to
know exactly what that break can do for you.
A lot more than you think, probably. Giving up
alcohol can be tough, but the benefits make it
worth the effort. If your drinking seems to be
affecting your work or personal relationships,
regardless of how much booze you are knock-
ing back, it is time to consider taking it easy. Be
aware that over-drinking does not always look
like you think it does.
Here is what you can expect to happen both
short and long-term, when you take a break
from alcohol:
You will sleep more soundly:
Alcohol may help people fall asleep more
quickly and deeply at first, it seriously screws
with sleep quality after that initial restful period.
You might toss and turn at first, but give up al-
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p36
cohol and the sleep you get will likely leave you
feeling more refreshed and sharp the next day.
You might crave sugar:
Sugar boosts levels of the “reward” chemical
dopamine, which fuels feelings of pleasure;
Alcohol does the same thing, so it is very pos-
sible that when you give up one substance
that causes happy-making chemicals to float
around your brain, you will be more likely to
reach for the other.
You will start losing weight:
Alcohol has a sneaky way of increasing your
daily calorie intake without you realizing it.
Just one margarita may contain 300 calories or
more, mostly from sugar. Men consume an ad-
ditional 433 calories on those days they drink
a “moderate” amount of alcohol. Cut those
from your diet—and do not replace them with
desserts or snacks, and you will start to drop
pounds without much effort.
Your skin may clear up:
Within a few days of cutting out booze, you
will notice your skin looking and feeling more
hydrated.
That is because alcohol is a diuretic, causing
you to urinate more. Alcohol also decreases the
body’s production of an antidiuretic hormone,
which helps the body reabsorb water. (Less wa-
ter in the body equals dry-looking skin.) Ruddi-
ness in your cheeks and around your nose may
also start to fade, and other skin conditions,
such as dandruff, eczema, may improve.
You will have more money:
Drinking, especially a fine wine or scotch
habit is an expensive undertaking. Take a mo-
ment to crunch the numbers, adding up what
you spend for drinks. It can be an eye-opening
and motivatingexercise.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p37
OZORDI DIMANS | CREATIVE WRITING Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p38

Book Lovers
N
ora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—
and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky
one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially
not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a
heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enor-
mous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her be-
loved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North

Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her
for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town
transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs
to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of
picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome coun-
try doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps
bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding edi-
tor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not
for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never
been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows

he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together
again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor
worth their salt would allow—what they discover might
just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve writ-
ten about themselves.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p39
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p40
OZORDI DIMANS | HISTORY
How was Seychelles discovered?
Victoria Street Victoria Seychelles 1900s
COMPILED BY U-ROY JULES ritius, became a separate British crown
T
he islands were known by traders
from the Persian Gulf centuries
ago, but the first recorded land-
ing on the uninhabited Seychelles was
made in 1609 by an expedition of the
British East India Company.
The archipelago was explored by
the Frenchman Lazare Picault in 1742
and 1744 and was formally annexed
to France in 1756. The archipelago was
named Séchelles, later changed by the
British to Seychelles.
War between France and Britain led
to the surrender of the archipelago to
the British in 1810, and it was formally
ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of
Paris in 1814. The abolition of slavery
in the 1830s deprived the islands’ Eu-
ropean colonists of their labor force
and compelled them to switch from
raising cotton and grains to cultivating
less-labour-intensive crops such as co-
conut, vanilla, and cinnamon.
In 1903 Seychelles, until that time
administered as a dependency of Mau-
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p41
Victoria buildings Seychelles 1900s
colony. A Legislative Council with
elected members was introduced in
1948.
In 1963 the United States leased
an area on the main island, Mahé, and
built an air force satellite tracking sta-
tion there; this brought regular air trav-
el to Seychelles for the first time, in the
form of a weekly seaplane shuttle that
operated from Mombasa, Kenya.
In 1970 Seychelles obtained a new
constitution, universal adult suf-
frage, and a governing council with an
elected majority. Self-government was
granted in 1975 and independence in
1976, within the Commonwealth of
Nations. In 1975 a coalition govern-
ment was formed with James R. Man-
cham as president and France-Albert
René as prime minister. In 1977, while
Mancham was abroad, René became
president in a coup d’état led by the
Seychelles People’s United Party (later
restyled the Seychelles People’s Pro-
gressive Front [SPPF], from 2009 the
People’s Party [Parti Lepep], from 2018
United Seychelles). Sir Selwyn Clarke Market
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p42
OZORDI DIMANS | ENTERTAINMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p43

Rizzoli & Isles

BY CHRISTOPHE ZIALOR

R
izzoli & Isles is an American crime drama television series
starring Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as
Maura Isles. Based on the series of Rizzoli & Isles novels by Tess
Gerritsen, the plot follows Boston Homicide police detective Jane
Rizzoli and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Maura Isles combining their
experiences and strikingly different personalities to solve cases.

Review

When I first started watching this show I thought it was going to be

just another cop drama like the other 500 on TV but no somewhere
amidst a pile of scripts that is a good drama they found one that
shines above the rest.

This is a cop drama that doesn’t follow the typical cliché as in

establish good guys here, insert bad guys there, make snitch talk,
show ends. Finally someone realized that it’s much more interesting
to make 2 interesting characters and give them lives around which
their job revolves and not the other way around. Rizzoli is a head-
strong cop whose Italian upbringing shows through, this is the type
of woman you can see growing up with 3 brothers and kicking their
ass around the house the whole time. Isles on the other hand is a
socialite more impressed by the complexity of the world and enjoy-
ing every second of the mystery around it. Together it’s brains and
brawn with just a nice dash of sexy, and the back and forth is right on
point to keep pace.

In conclusion, this is the show to watch if you want to see 2 women

kick some serious criminal ass with intellect to boot!
OZORDI DIMANS | BEHIND THE LYRICS Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p44

Lyrics
HOLDING OUT
FOR A HERO
by BONNIE TYLER
Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where’s the streetwise Hercules
to fight the rising odds?

Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed

Late at night, I toss and I turn
And I dream of what I need

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong, and he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure, and it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life
Larger than life

Somewhere after midnight

In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere, just beyond my reach
There’s someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunder

And rising with the heat
It’s gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet, yeah
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong, and he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure, and it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above

Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear there is someone, somewhere watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood

I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood

(Like a fire in my blood, like a fire in my blood
Like a fire in my blood, like a fire in my blood, blood)

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong, and he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
OZORDI DIMANS | SPORTS
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Messi magic guides relieved Argentina past feisty Mexico
Source AP
L
ionel Messi produced a mo-
ment of trademark magic to
help keep Argentina's World
Cup hopes alive with victory in a
tense encounter against Mexico.
In a cauldron of noise at Lusail
Stadium, Messi and Argentina
knew defeat would end their hopes
of reaching the last 16 after only
two games following the stunning
loss to Saudi Arabia in their opener.
The tension was mounting as
Mexico frustrated Messi in an at-
tritional game, especially in a first
half littered with fouls and stop-
pages that never allowed Argentina
to gain any momentum.
Messi changed all that after 64
minutes when he took one touch to
control a pass with his left foot be-
fore drilling an unerring finish past
Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa
into the bottom corner from 20
yards.
The masses of Argentina sup-
porters in a crowd of 88,966 went
wild in celebration and relief as
their World Cup campaign got back
0 2
0 2
1 3
1 0
6 2
1 1
0 2
0 0
on track.
Enzo Fernandez added a superb
second with a curling shot into the
top corner three minutes from time
but it was Messi who made the
breakthrough and the difference.
Victory in a tough final Goup
C game against Poland will send
them into the knockout phase.
Mbappe double gives France
spot in World Cup knockout stage
Kylian Mbappe scored a second-
half double as France became the
first team to book their spot in the
World Cup knockout stage on Sat-
urday by defeating a feisty Danish
team 2-1 in a tense encounter.
After a goalless first half in which
the defending champions dominat-
ed but failed to convert, defender
Theo Hernandez linked up with
the electric Mbappe, whose shot
deflected off the heal of Andreas
Christensen and into the back of
the net to give France the lead in
the 61st minute.
Denmark levelled seven minutes
later, with Christensen making up
for the deflection by blasting a pow-
Sunday 27 November, 2022
• Lionel Messi now has as many World Cup goals as Diego Maradona
(eight), with only Gabriel Batistuta (10) scoring more for Argentina in
the competition
erful header past distraught French
goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Mbappe finished the job in the
86th minute, converting on a cross
from Antoine Griezmann and pro-
pelling the ball into the back of the
net with his thigh.
France top Group D with six
points, three ahead of Australia,
who beat Tunisia 1-0 earlier in the
day, with the Danes and the Tuni-
sians both on one point.
France take on Tunisia and Den-
mark meet Socceroos in the final
1 2
0 0
2 0
2 0
0 0
4 1
0 2
2 1
| p45
round on Wednesday.
Lewandowski breaks his
World Cup duck as Poland
close in on knockout phase
Robert Lewandowski finally
scored at the World Cup on Sat-
urday, helping Poland beat Sau-
di Arabia 2-0 and boosting his
team’s chances of reaching the
knockout stages. Lewandowski
shed tears after scoring in the
82nd minute. He raced toward
the corner with his arms out-
1 2
7 0
0 0
1 0
OZORDI DIMANS | SPORTS
stretched, then stayed slumped
on the field as teammates rushed
to congratulate him. He got up,
rubbed his face, and blew a kiss
to the crowd.
It was the Poland forward’s first
World Cup goal in his fifth appear-
ance at the tournament.
The 34-year-old Lewandowski
also set up the opener in the 40th
minute when he kept the ball in
play after goalkeeper Mohammed
Al-Owais’ initial block, then laid it
back for Piotr Zielinski to knock in.
Al-Owais denied Lewandowski
from scoring a second goal late in
the match.
Poland was scrambling for long
periods at the Education City Sta-
dium as the Saudi team was pushed
forward by enthusiastic fans in
what seemed like a home game.
Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny
saved Salem Al-Dawsari’s penalty
at the end of the first half. He then
blocked Mohammed Al-Burayk’s
shot from the rebound.
Poland will next face Argentina,
while Saudi Arabia will meet Mexi-
co in their last Group C games.
1 0
2 0
0 0
3 2
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p46
Australia edge Tunisia to end
12-year wait for a win at World
Cup
Australia beat Tunisia 1-0 at the
Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday to
register their first World Cup vic-
tory in 12 years as they provision-
ally moved up to second in Group D
behind reigning champions France.
Striker Mitchell Duke scored
• Marcus Thuram and Kylian Mbappe of France celebrate after the
midway through the first half with
2-1 win
a glancing header past keeper Ay-
men Dahmen to give Australia the
lead, while Tunisia's best chance
came when skipper Youssef Msakni
shot just wide.
Tunisia brought on the squad's
top scorer Wahbi Khazri in the sec-
ond half as they upped the tempo
in search of an equaliser, but the
Australian defence stood firm with
goalkeeper and skipper Mat Ryan a
calming presence at the back.
The victory snapped Australia's
seven-match winless run at World
Cups since they last picked up three
points in a victory over Serbia in
2010. France play Denmark in the
other Group D encounter later on • Poland's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his first World
Saturday. Cup goal
OZORDI DIMANS | GAMES
How to play Snakes and Ladders
COMPILED BY U-ROY JULES
T
he game Snakes and Ladders has en-
thralled generations of children, and
gone through a few name changes
along the way. Sometimes sold as Chutes
and Ladders in the United States, and
Locally a lot of our generation have
also played such traditional game, and
even some children’s are still playing it.
I remember when I first played it; I had
an amazing time playing with my family,
and even being made by being eaten by
snakes.
Today we are going to learn how to play
Snakes and Ladders.
• Understand the object of the game.
The object of the game is to be the first
player to reach the end by moving across
the board from square one to the final
square. Most boards wrap back and forth,
so you move left to right across first row,
then move up to the second and move
right to left, and so on.
• Follow the numbers on the board to
see how to move forward. For example, if
you rolled a five and you were on space
number 11, then you would move your
game piece to space number 16.
• Decide who goes first. Each player
should roll one die to see who gets the
highest number. Whoever rolls the high-
est number gets to take the first turn. Af-
ter the first player takes a turn, the person
sitting to that player’s left will take a turn.
Play continues in a circle going left.
• If two or more people roll the same
number, and it is the highest number
rolled, each of those people roll the die an
additional time to see who gets to go first.
• Roll the die and move. To take your
turn, roll the die again and read the num-
ber that you rolled. Pick up your game
piece and move forward that number
of spaces. For example, if you roll a two,
move your piece to square two. On your
originally Snakes and Arrows in India, the
next turn, if you roll a five, move your
game has barely changed in all this time. If
piece forward five squares, ending up on
you have lost the rules or you have made
square seven.
your own Snakes and Ladders board, you
may want to review the rules before you
• Some people play that you can only
play or perhaps try a variation on the tra-
move onto the board if you roll a one, and
ditional rules.
Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p47
if you do not get a one, you just skip your
turn. This is not recommended, since this
can be frustrating for unlucky players.
• Climb up ladders. The ladders on the
game board allow you to move upwards
and get ahead faster. If you land exactly on
a square that shows an image of the bot-
tom of a ladder, then you may move your
game piece all the way up to the square at
the top of the ladder.
• If you land at the top of a ladder or
somewhere in the middle of a ladder, just
stay put. You never move down ladders.
• Slide down snakes or chutes. Some
versions have snakes on the board, while
others have chutes (slides). Snakes (or
chutes) move you back on the board be-
cause you have to slide down them. If
you land exactly at the top of a snake or
chute, slide your game piece all the way
to the square at the bottom of the snake
or chute.
• If you land on a square that is in the
middle or at the bottom of a snake (or
chute), just stay put. You only slide down
if you land on the top square of a snake (or
chute).
• Take an extra turn if you roll a six. If
you roll a six, then you get an extra turn.
First, move your piece forward six squares
and then roll the die again. If you land on
any snakes or ladders, follow the instruc-
tions above to move up or down and then
roll again to take your extra turn. As long
as you keep rolling sixes, you can keep
moving.
• Land exactly on the last square to
win. The first person to reach the highest
square on the board wins, usually square
100. However, there is a twist! If you roll
too high, your piece “bounces” off the last
square and moves back. You can only win
by rolling the exact number needed to
land on the last square.
OZORDI DIMANS | ADVERTISEMENT Sunday 27 November, 2022 | p48