He is not yet 17 years old, arrived this summer in Boé-Bon-Encontre, and is bluffing everyone. After a hat-trick on Lescar’s lawn last weekend in the Gambardella Cup with the BAFC, the native of Vianne did it again on Saturday evening with the “big guys”.
Arriving at Lescar on Saturday afternoon, the Boétiens were in the unknown against a team playing a notch above. But amid the group of players descending from the minibuses, the youngest of the band, Tom Martinez, 16 and a half, had a big smile.
For good reason, he knew this synthetic lawn from Béarnaise well. Last weekend, with the BAFC U18s (EBBE – SU Agen agreement), he faced the Lescariens in the Gambardella cup (3rd round) on their home soil. Results ? Lot-et-Garonne victory 4 to 2 with a hat-trick from the native of Vianne, who started football at the age of five in Nérac, before joining FC Marmande after the U11s.
“I knew I was going to score”
“I thought about it yes. I was confident before the game, says Tom Martinez. I even knew that I was going to score. I was sure of it! Don’t see any insolence there. Just the nerve of youth. In Cancelles, the young striker makes everyone agree. Teammates, coaches, leaders, everyone is seduced. Arrived this summer because attracted by the quality of the U18 and senior team after a complicated season at FCM, Tom Martinez is blossoming completely.
A centerpiece among young people, he played four matches with the seniors, all in the Coupe de France. “Why are we playing him? Because he has enormous qualities, smiles Mickaël Tomas, assistant coach of the pennant team. He hits, he is fast. He understands the game. And he’s a goalscorer. He is drawn to the goal. As a youth, he scored two to three goals in every game. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this. »
The qualities of Tom Martinez jump quickly in the eyes of observers. Moreover, until one hour from kick-off, the Boétiens coaches thought of aligning him from the start to use his speed qualities on Lescar’s synthetic turf. Finally, the staff took the decision to reinforce the midfielder with Corentin Chaminade.
A high class goal
But from the 63rd minute, Alexis Jourdan did not hesitate to launch his nugget alongside the experienced Gaëtan Micheletti. And after ten minutes of adjustments, the EBBE opened the scoring by Do Poço (63rd). Then, the “yellow” of an evening made the round back to resist the Béarnaise reaction. Before placing the second banderilla.
Launched by Favennec, Tom Martinez recalled the good memories of last weekend. “I’m going deep. I know there is only one defender left. I play on my speed and I make a hook on my right foot, my bad foot, and I adjust the small net goalkeeper. When I left, I knew I wanted to do this. »
Hook on the last defender, and shot adjusted in the small net. A high class goal for Tom Martinez.
A class action. Bluffing for a kid who will celebrate his 17th birthday on November 22. Either two (or three) days after the 8th round against Aubagne. ” It’s incredible. I will do an 8th round of the Coupe de France at home. This is a dream. Before that, the Viannais will find the U18s on Saturday for a shock, in Gambardella, against Pau FC.
