By Staff writer
Although the fortunes of the Mauritian national football team (nicknamed 'Club M') have deteriorated somewhat since the turn of the millennium, a move towards a more professional ethos in recent times has helped to restore optimism amongst Mauritian football fans. The national team reached the final of the IOIG Cup in 2011, losing narrowly to the Seychelles. Here we profile some of the more prominent players to have represented the Mauritian national team in recent years.
Johan Marmitte
Midfielder Johan Marmitte (born 31 January, 1977) has represented his country on 15 occasions, scoring one goal. After joining Curepipe Starlight SC from US Beau Bassin / Rose Hill in 2002, he won his first cap for Mauritius in a World Cup qualifier against Uganda in October of the following year. Marmitte has won three league medals with Starlight, and has won both the Mauritian Cup and Republican Cup on two occasions. He has also gained good experience in the African Champions League, playing against teams like Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United of South Africa.
Stéphan L'Enflé
Defender Stéphan L'Enflé (born 7 November, 1982) has won 35 caps for 'Club M'. His debut came in July 2003, in a 2-0 African Nations Cup qualifying win over Madagascar, and since then he has been an important part of the side. L'Enflé has played his club football with Réunion-based SS Capricorne since 2009, having spent the first 7 years of his career at AS Port Louis 2000, where he won several Mauritian league titles, and also scored an important goal that helped the club progress through to the second round of the African Champions League. He also spent the 2008-09 season with Curepipe Starlight SC, winning another league medal and representing the club against Supersport United in the African Champions League.
Jimmy Cundasami
The hugely experienced midfield player Jimmy Cundasami (born 14 July, 1977) has won 52 caps for his country, representing Club M for the first time as far back as 1998. He scored on his debut in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Lesotho that August and followed it up with a goal against the same opposition in the return match three weeks later. He has represented Mauritius against some of Africa's top footballing nations, including Egypt, South Africa, Cameroon and Angola. Cundasami has played his club football with Réunion-based US Stade Tamponnaise since 2006 (winning several trophies, and appearing in the African Champions League), having previously had spells with their rival clubs JS Saint-Pierroise and SS Saint-Louisienne.
Giovanni Jeannot
Striker Giovanni Jeannot (born 13 October 1982) has won 20 caps for the Mauritian national team, with his debut coming in a COSAFA Cup match against Zambia in 2004. He has played his entire club career with AS Port Louis 2000, winning the Mauritian league championship on two occasions, and also winning Mauritian Cup and Republican Cup medals. He has represented his club in the African Champions league also, and scored the winning goal against Coin Nord in the 2006 competition.
Jacques-Désiré Périatambée
Midfielder Jacques-Désiré Périatambée (born 15 October 1975) is another experienced Mauritian player, having won 18 international caps, and having played the majority of his career in the French football league. He scored on his debut for Mauritius in an African Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa in January 1999, and scored in a World Cup qualifying match against Egypt the following year. Périatambée currently plays for SC Bastia in French Ligue 2, having previously spent time at Auxerre, Le Mans and Dijon.
Gavin Heeroo
English-born midfielder Gavin Heeroo (born 2 September, 1984) made an appearance for Club M in a friendly match against Réunion in August 2002, and played in two matches against the South African U-23 team the following year. Heeroo has featured for a number of clubs in England's lower leagues, including Cambridge United, Sutton United, and most notably, Crystal Palace.
Christopher Perle
Striker Christopher Perle (born 17 December, 1974) has been one of the more prolific goalscorers to feature for the Mauritian national team in recent years. Perle made his international debut in a World Cup qualifying match against Zaire in June 1996, and scored his first goal in a 3-1 African Nations Cup qualifier win over Lesotho in August 1998. He has since scored in competitive internationals against the likes of Angola, Madagascar and Tanzania, and scored the second goal in Mauritius' 2-0 COSAFA Cup win over South Africa in 2004. Perle played for clubs in Germany, the Seychelles and Réunion before joining then-Mauritian champions Curepipe Starlight in 2007, where he won several trophies and played for the club in the African Champions League.
Jerry Louis
Midfield player Jerry Louis (born 12 February, 1978) is another of Mauritian football's more experienced players, having won 35 caps for his country since his debut against Gabon in an African Nations Cup qualifier in 1999. He scored his first international goal in the thrilling African Nations Cup / World Cup qualifier against Uganda in 2003. Louis is another player who was part of the successful Curepipe Starlight team in the late 2000s, and now plays his football in Réunion with FC Avirons.