He learned to know patience, a quality that was not his strong point, however. It is indeed difficult to stand out when playing in a team of stars that includes a host of Olympic champions. At only 23 years old, Elohim has nevertheless become, since his arrival from Nîmes a little over a year ago, one of the sure assets of PSG. The Parisian left-back is also the worthy heir of two former internationals in the France team, Raoul Prandi and Mézuela Servier (39 and 137 caps). He talks about why his family is so important to his career.
As far back as he can remember, handball has always been present in his life: “I started to see matches very early on, especially those of my mother. (Mézuela Servier, former captain of the Bleues in the 1990s). I loved going to the gym, especially when the mood was crazy. I was very young when my parents rebuilt a family on their own, but the fervor was still there. This is what I remember the most from my childhood. “
The one who has 8 selections with the France team could have made a career in football or basketball – his two other favorite sports – but it is no surprise the hand that he chooses. “My parents never put pressure on me,” says the world champion Juniors (2019). At first they would ask me to have fun and have fun before anything else. Even afterwards, when it got serious, they gave me a choice. They knew I would follow in their footsteps. But that was my story. “
“I could have done bigger things sooner if I had better managed my adolescence”
The future Parisian learns everything at Torcy (where his father-in-law plays in N1) then at US Ivry, the historic club his father Raoul made the heyday, notably with a title of champion of France (in 1997). At 19, he joined Nîmes, trained by Franck Maurice, his godfather. His two excellent seasons (nearly 200 goals scored) under the Gard sun opened the doors of PSG to him.
His early outbreak was, however, he said, delayed by his own responsibility: “I wasted time and could have done bigger things sooner if I had managed my teenage years better. Around 16 years old, I was “foufou”, I let myself be dispersed by my friends. I also gave up school a little (he only has the college diploma) because my goal was to reach the highest level as quickly as possible. I had to react, especially for my father. “
Today, Elohim Prandi has found the right balance, even if his relatives are scattered (his father is in Chartres, his mother in Noisy-le-Grand, and Matteo, his half-brother, plays in Saran). They never let go, and that is the most important. I thank them every day for their efforts towards me, both in good times and in bad. (a shoulder injury deprived him of the last World Cup with the Blues). I miss my family, we found a rhythm. She is essential to me and I want her to be proud of me. “
