Like any good teenager, Jesse Marsch’s son doesn’t let anything show what he has just experienced.
The teenager – the story does not say which, Lennon or Maddux Marsch – has just returned from soccer practice, while the family lives in Leipzig, Germany. “So, how was it?” », asks his father, at the helm of RB Leipzig at that time.
“It was good,” his child replied, as if the day he had just spent was unspeakably banal.
— Did something special happen?
– Yeah. Thomas Müller and Serge Gnabry were there.
– Pardon ? »
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
Jesse Marsch (center)
Müller and Gnabry are two great players in German soccer and Bayern Munich – the former has truly legendary status, having notably won the World Cup in 2014. The idea of spending even a few minutes in the company of these two internationals has all the makings of a memorable memory. For an adult as for a child.
“Then he showed me his jersey, signed by the two players,” said the coach of the Canadian men’s team at the Nutrilait Center early Tuesday afternoon. He had videos of him and Thomas Müller going through cones. He had loved it. I said to myself: ‟Manit’s so cool!” »
Why are we telling you this anecdote? That’s because it inspired Jesse Marsch to repeat it as leader of Canada Soccer’s men’s program. This is why the team is in Montreal this week: they want to “connect [connect the dots] » the federation with its roots, across the country. Starting with the Quebec metropolis.
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
Alphonso Davies (left)
Moïse Bombito visited his former club, CS Saint-Laurent, Tuesday evening. At the same time, Mathieu Choinière, originally from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, went to Celtix Haut-Richelieu. The big star of the selection Alphonso Davies kicked balls with the young people of FC Laval on this balmy October evening. These activities are repeated throughout the week in the greater metropolitan area.
Wednesday evening, the Reds held a public training session at Saputo stadium. About 1,100 people attended the practice, and most stayed for autographs despite the cold that had set in.
“Bomby, Bomby, Bomby!” », chanted a dozen children in front of Moïse Bombito, while his claw was torn off on the outskirts of the field. “Bombito, you are the best player in the world!” “, launched another young supporter, his face tense with excitement.
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
Around 1,100 people attended the Canadian team’s training Wednesday evening at Saputo Stadium.
A few meters away, Davies was also busy filling the numerous requests for jerseys and caps signatures. “Can I have your sneakers?” ”, one of the young fans boldly asked him. Davies kept his shoes on. Everyone smiled.
“I hope that the opportunity to see and touch their heroes will ensure that their ambition and their inspiration will only grow,” Marsch said Tuesday. The guys were great. When I pitched the idea, they didn’t hesitate. Phonzie was the first to say, “Come on, let’s do it!” »
So that everyone is on the same wavelength
The session lasted two hours inside CF Montreal. A superb volley goal from Liam Millar generated the biggest reaction from the assembled fans.
“That’s one of the objectives of this camp,” Maxime Crépeau told us at the Nutrilait Center the day before. It is to renew this link which has been lost in recent years. It’s important for us, the players, because we have a couple from Quebec. »
Bombito, Crépeau, Choinière, but also Jonathan Sirois, Ismaël Koné and Samuel Piette are from the province. The last two are not with the team this week: the first was injured with his club Marseille, the second was simply not recalled by his selection.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Moses Bombito
And it’s not just young people we’re trying to inspire with this camp in Montreal. Local coaches, too. After Tuesday’s session, to which representatives of clubs from the region were invited, all these wonderful people went to the amphitheater of the CF Montreal training center for a sharing of knowledge from the coach. Canada Soccer wants to repeat all of these experiences across the country.
“The more provinces are on the same page – local clubs, academies and professional teams – the more the sport will be enhanced. That’s the goal. »
Beautiful words which, for the moment, are translating into beautiful events within the community.
“If it’s just going to see them for two minutes, and seeing the stars in their eyes, that will make us happy,” says Mathieu Choinière. They are the future of Canada. »