ROyan, its bay, its sandy beaches, its villas, a light cathedral day and night … The postcard is beautiful. Royan is also an associative and sports patchwork. And on this field, the Royan Vaux Atlantique Football Club (RVAFC) has its place. Living in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne today, Robert Corfou knows the club. And for a long time! He has known the beautiful years there, as a player, in the early 1960s. The Royan club had not yet merged with his neighbor in Vaux-sur-Mer. He was then called the Roc, the Royan Océan Club. The goalkeeper was called Jean-Pierre Andrés. In the middle, Corfu made the pair with the talented Édouard Kot. In front, the former Valenciennes professional, trained in Bordeaux, Yvon-Raymond Lubiato, put on the goals. Memories, memories …
The rock team in the early 1960s, with Lubiato (3rd in the front row) and Corfu (top right).
Robert Corfou collection
“I wore the jersey of Royan three seasons, until 1965. We were playing in front of an average of 1,500 spectators on Sunday, at the time at the three-store, next to the Lycée Cordouan”, recalls the ex-n ° 8, in the imposing physique (186 cm under the height). Behind the handrail, sometimes, was held a young boy, who came from state, a certain Dominique Rocheteau. “Dear Robert, you were one of the idols of my childhood” wrote the green angel in the dedication of his latest book “Sentimental football”. Nice. “We rose two years in a row, until the division of honor,” said the man who then left Royan to evolve at the national level. He then knew the D2, for six years, in Fontainebleau.
Henry, Boli, Anelka, Rothen…
As a career consecration, Robert Corfou would have participated in the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968 with the French amateur team and Jean-Michel Larqué without a malleoli injury during the preparation course. The native of Pauillac (33) then embraced a coach career. So much so that it will open the doors of Clairefontaine as technical advisor within the French Federation.
As such, he experienced a kyrielle of players, through the young selections, the Henry, Boli, Anelka, Rothen … In 1998, the year of the global coronation of the Blues, Corfu was also made available to Brazilian finalists throughout the tournament. “We had to see them in training, what technical mastery, it was fabulous!” I learned from their training. »»
“Football brought me everything”
Robert Corfou also shares the same year of birth, 1942, as the world champion coach then Aimé Jacquet. Which for several years has not responded to media solicitations. Things are very different with his “lifelong friend”, Robert, “a quality man”, whose long -term course has led both to Africa, in order to train the national team of Cameroon or the elephants of Côte d’Ivoire, as in Aurillac, Rochefort or Cognac.
In Royan, Corfu appears in the clothes of an eternal lover of the round ball. “Football brought me everything, I now try to give back to the youngest and educators”. The RVAFC sports neo-director (volunteer) of RVAFC is leading to a state of the inventory in a club which is starting a new era with a new president at its head, Thierry Guyonneau, and a pennant team evolving in regional 3. “I am here to bring my experience, to be of fun”. Like a beautiful goal by Robert Corfou.
The fit team: FC Maritime Star
The stellists had managed a nice blow by winning in Châtelaillon for the 2nd day of Regional 2 (2-4). They confirmed at home, Sunday September 28, during the 4th round of the French Cup against Parthenay (2-0, with goals from Pape Diakhaté and Lamine Camara), a team that evolves in regional 1. They are on a mission this year, with revenge to take the elimination in the 7th round of the Cup on the Green Tapis in 2024. They had been out of the competition to have aligned an unqualified player Vertou.
The match of the day: AS de la Baie – Rochefort
The sporting future of the Bay is back in the regional 2 women after an eclipse of several years and a last season where the Maritimes have copiously dominated the interdistrict championship of the 2 Charentes. Historicals Nelly Magot, Brigitte Ardouin and Annick Lostec still president of the administrative and technical destinies of the club, which brings together the municipalities of Charron, Esnandes and Marsilly. This Sunday, at the Gustave-Chevalier stadium in Marsilly, it will be the derby against Rochefort FC, which has become a regular at this level of competition.
The hard team: Saint-Palais
The team of Diego Calderon lost its first two games of Regional 3 against Château-Larcher (4-5) then in Saint-Yrieix (3-1). Qualified for the 4th round of the French Cup, the Saint-Palaisiens logically fell at home against the residents of R1 of FC Rochefort (1-4, goal of Corentin Machefert), with the satisfaction of having played in front of a Kop of supporters still as numerous and noisy. This support will once again be precious for the reception, Saturday, of Nieuil-l’Espoir (10th / 1pt) in the league.
The number: 5
Five Charente-Maritime teams will play the 5th round of the French Cup. Saturday October 11, at 8 p.m.: Rochefort (R1) – Périgny (R1), Jonzac Saint -Germain (R3) – Angoulême (N2). Sunday October 12, at 3 p.m.: FC Maritime Star (R2) – Chauray (N2), FC Avenir 79 (R2) – Nieul -sur -Mer (R3) or Inter Bocage (R3). L. B.
