Football Stars Drop In On Seychelles

When some board their planes to resume their hectic business back home, others arrive excited at the prospect of discovering one of the most beautiful spots on earth. They could not have made a better choice.

Such holidays are usually associated with sipping champagne near the swimming pool – the perfect respite from the limelight – but most stars find out upon landing in Seychelles that they can actually do that without trying very hard.

But they can also do much more than that as all the five-star hotels can actually pamper them up to the very last minute of their stay. From presidential suites to fine dining, they are sure not to miss anything like exclusive spa treatments and massages, serenades in the enviable turquoise sea and of course ample opportunities to wile away the days at the infinity pools.

Three popular names such as Lothar Matthäus, Sol Campbell and Alexander Frei have all spent time in Seychelles in recent days.

German Matthäus, one of the most successful players ever in world football, arrived in the country last Saturday with his family and he could not have been in a better mood to start his holiday. His hotel – Ste Anne Resort – offers complete bliss away from the life on mainland Mahe.

Matthäus began his colourful career in a local club called FC Herzogenaurach and then at 18 years of age moved to Borussia Monchengladbach, one of the greatest clubs in Europe at that time.

From there he joined the national team who went on to win the European Championship in 1980.

He then moved on to Bayern Munich and by the time the World Cup was held in Italy in 1990, he was established at Inter Milan. His explosive performance in the World Cup earned him European Player of the Year that year and Player of the Year in Germany as well.

Matthäus went on to win several more honours at Inter Milan and later on back in Germany before retiring in 2000 at the age of 39. He is now coaching.

Portsmouth and ex-Arsenal star Campbell had an enjoyable time in Seychelles where he stayed at Banyan Tree Resorts on Mahe and also experienced one of the earth’s most enchanting and romantic retreats on Denis Island. He also mingled with football fans at Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove.

Campbell started his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur where he spent nine years and captained the team to League Cup victory in 1998-1999 before moving onto Arsenal in 2001.

He was instrumental in Arsenal’s line-up where he enjoyed multiple successes including the Premier League title and the FA Cup.

Campbell, who made his debut for the England national team in 1996, ended his five-year spell with Arsenal in 2006 and transferred to Portsmouth where he earned the captainship for the 2007-2008 season.

Swiss attacker Frei has also taken time out to recharge batteries in Seychelles after a long season in Germany’s Bundesliga championship with Borussia Dortmund. He spent two weeks at the Fisherman’s Cove hotel with his wife.

Captain and best scorer for his national team, Frei hopes to get his country into the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

By STB