The fresco that he reveals in pouring rain sums up everything. We see Little Aurélien, 5 years old, freshly licensed at the Artigues Heritage club, near the very large Aurélien Tchouaméni and his gesture of celebration, sporting the jersey n ° 8 of the French team, he who already has 43 selections in blue.
A time jump, full of promises for the next generation. This Wednesday, in Artigues, north of Bordeaux, neither the catastrophic weather, nor the strike would have been right for the motivation of the 300 current licensees of the Childhood Club of Tchouaméni, nor of the 300 other young people from FC Rive right with whom they share the facilities, to come and greet their idol.
“Call Abdel La Relay”
“An inspiration, it motivates us to become like him,” smiles Maïssa, U15. “Call me Abdel La Relève,” laughs a young person who would also see himself giving his name at a stage in a few years. “I shook his hand, he dedicated my jersey, I cried with joy, for me Real, it is the ultimate,” says Angel, U15 too, not close to forget this day.
“To see that a child from home arrived so high, it is a real example for children,” salutes Jessica, his mother, with angels. Benoît salutes “humility and simplicity” of the 25 -year -old French international, “who knows how to express themselves and has values. “It sometimes lacks in football,” continues this father from an U10 to the dedicated cap, delighted to have played a few minutes “with Tchouaméni and all the friends. »»
“This club gave me everything”
“Artigues is a family club where the concept of sharing has always been essential, I was taught to have fun with the friends of the school, to respect the volunteers and all the people who allow us to perform, I kept it again today,” says the Real Madrid midfielder, whose arrival was obvious.
“This club gave me everything, the educators I had when I was little are still there, I wanted to return the currency of the play, show them that I always think of them despite the course I have, I do not forget where I come from. “” We have always stayed in touch “, confirms Claude Dauvillier.
President of the club for twenty -one years, the latter remembers the little Aurélien, “spotted in the first year as an exceptional player, still dissatisfied as long as he did not arrive at a result, a hardworking as much as a unifying, because he led these friends to be good”.
He financed the renovation of changing rooms and stands
At 11, he joined the Girondins de Bordeaux, “with three friends so that he was not alone but in reality, he alone interested them”. For him, Tchouameni is “as good at the foot as in the head, thanks to the values instilled by his parents, Josette and Fernand. »»
“Proud of the success course already accomplished by Aurélien”, his mother smiles “by chance that made him begin football, because it was very close to the house”. “Before that, he had made judo and guitar!” We never pushed him, besides when he wanted to get involved as a professional, I did not agree at all because he was an excellent student, ”slips Josette Tchouaméni, former CPE of the Léo Drouin college in Bordeaux.
Surrounded by his parents, Aurélien Tchouameni visited changing rooms and stands whose renovation he funded, for 30,000 euros. And regularly donates equipment within the framework of the prosperi endowment fund he chairs with his mother, “to support young people and give opportunities to young people, helpless, to promote success in education, health and sport. »»
After a four -hour crowd, the international left for Madrid, leaving behind footballers and delighted volunteers, like Christophe. “In Gironde, our reference was Christophe Dugarry, 98 world champion, now we have Koundé, de la Brède and Tchouameni here in Artigues, it renews the stock of local idols! »»
