"I started playing football at ES Colombienne, the club in my hometown where my father used to play. Convinced of my potential, he contacted Paris Saint-Germain to arrange a trial for me when I was only eight years old. When we headed to the Camp des Loges, I could hardly believe it because, for me, PSG was something incredible, unattainable! That's how I met Jean-Martial Kipré (class of '84) during the trials at Camp des Loges. Everything happened naturally. I joined the club's association and the adventure began, lasting for about ten years... I especially remember the many tournaments we took part in, both in France and abroad, sometimes staying with host families. We've always been Paris supporters at home... and still are today! So imagine how proud my family and I were when I put on the red and blue jersey for the first time..."
"I've had a billion magical moments, like during my early years at the club when I often accompanied the professional players onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes before kick-off. I was also a ball boy during a PSG-AC Milan Champions League match. I also had the honour of appearing alongside Rai on the cover of the club's official magazine! On the pitch, I particularly remember taking part in the first two editions of the Danone Cup, an international competition that was held at the Parc des Princes at the time. I was able to face the world's biggest clubs on a legendary pitch that I used to dream about! I also have fond memories of how kind the pros were to the Titis from the youth academy. We often hitchhiked to get to the city centre, and some of them would give us a lift, like Jérôme Alonzo, who was always kind and took an interest in our daily lives by chatting with us."
"I remember Rudy Haddad (born in 1985), whom I met very early on. He was technically outstanding, a real treat to watch! Loris Arnaud (born in 1985) was formidable in front of goal, a real striker! I was convinced that they would reach the highest level with Paris, which they did. I would also mention two other players I really liked, notably the much-missed Sol Bamba, a physical monster but above all an extremely kind guy, like Chiguy Lucau, who was a role model for all the young players of my generation. Despite his status as a key player in the reserve team, he always remained humble and available to the younger players at the youth academy."
"I am already extremely grateful to all the coaches/trainers I had throughout my training. Each of them taught me something. We saw them more than our own parents and they played a very important role in our education. Beyond helping us to become good footballers, they trained us as men. Be it in football or in everyday life, the key words were: hard work, rigour and discipline. It's important to understand that it's a very difficult environment, where we were quickly confronted with the harsh realities of life. It's an incredible school for mental toughness. Paris is the elite! Being strong isn't enough; you have to stand out from the crowd. Objectively speaking, I wasn't one of the best in my class when I needed to be. Of course, I dreamed of making it at PSG and spending my entire career there, but after those years at the youth academy, I needed to take on a new challenge."
"After ten years in Paris, I joined Sedan, where everything happened very quickly in my first year, as I went straight into the professional team. I played for five seasons in the Ardennes, unfortunately interrupted by two cruciate ligament ruptures that slowed my progress while I was captain of the reserve team. I bounced back in Belgium, at Virton [alongside a certain Thomas Meunier], a country I haven't left since and where I have always played at least in the National division. There were a few missed opportunities to play among the Belgian elite, but that's life, that's football."
"Although I'm approaching my forties, I'm still active in football, having decided to move down to the Regional league to give myself more free time to improve my beach soccer and teqball skills. Having obtained dual nationality in 2020, I have become a Belgian international in both disciplines. I will be competing in the Beach Soccer Euro in Pisa, Italy, this September, and then I will be taking part in the Teqball World Championships for the fifth consecutive time in December. I will be returning to Rio in November to train so that I am ready to defend the colours of my adopted country and try to remain among the twenty best players in the world!"
PROFILE:
Date of birth: 31 May 1986
Place of birth: Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine)
Position: Midfielder
Clubs: ES Colombienne (1992 to 1994), Paris Saint-Germain (1994 to 2004), INF Clairefontaine (1999 to 2002), CS Sedan Ardennes (2004 to 2009), RE Virton (2009 to 2011), RCS Verviers (2011 to 2012), RUW Ciney (2012 to 2016), Tempo Overijse (2016 to 2019), RCS Brainois (2019 to 2021), RFC Meux (2021 to 2024), RRC Waterloo (2024 to 2025), Royal Wavre Limal (since July 2025).