A third recruit for Stade Lavallois. Kévin Tapoko, born in Laval, was presented to the press this Tuesday morning at the club’s training center, at Les Gandonnières. The 28-year-old midfielder sign for one year plus an additional year if they stay in Ligue 2, he arrives from Beroe in Bulgaria. This name necessarily means something to you since he is none other than the son of the former Tango star Guy-Noël Tapoko.
After having wandered a lot abroad, in Belgium, Israel, Lithuania, Cyprus or even in France in Grenoble for a season, Kévin Tapoko has gained experience.
When did the first contacts date?
The first contacts took place with José (Ferreira, number 2 of Stade Lavallois, editor’s note), it went well right away. We stayed in touch for a month, the feeling went very well and I immediately joined the project. I was told that there was also a lot of human, a medium and long term project. I’ve changed quite a bit in my career and it’s not always easy for a footballer to have this opportunity to come to a project based on continuity and that was really what I was looking for. I didn’t think much. And then, of course, I’m from here, my father played here, my family is here, and my wife’s family is here. So it’s not very hard to accept it and say yes very quickly.
With your course, you must have learned a lot of things?
I think I gained a lot of experience, I played in several divisions, in the first division, I was able to play good matches. And then I was able to play a few European Cup matches. Afterwards, the different cultures, the languages, the integration, all that, these are things that have become easy for me. So those are really positives.
What can we expect on the pitch with you? What is your profile?
Most people who see me directly talk to me about set pieces but I think they’ll be a little surprised because, even if I can score goals, it’s not necessarily my qualities. My qualities are more contrary to my size. I’m good technically, I like going forward, I like to dribble, I’ve learned to use my physique over the years because I’m a former striker. Afterwards I like the duel, the contact but above all I like playing the ball.
What experience has marked you the most in your career?
Sportingly, the year that marked me the most was my first season in Israel because that’s where I really exploded, I was transferred to Beer-Sheva (in Israel, editor’s note). So sportingly, we will say that in Israel, it is the country where I played a lot, where I made myself known. Even in Greece, I played in the Greek first division, with the stadiums, the atmospheres, the supporters and all that. It’s true that there are a lot of bad points abroad, but also huge points. We had been able to play the Europa League too. So let’s say that Israel and Greece were very good experiences.
After Grenoble, are you happy to come back to Ligue 2?
It sure makes me happy, especially since in Grenoble, I had a season with them that was not regular, I had some very good games and some bad ones. So it’s true that I left France with a bit of this bitter taste of not having been able to really show, on the continuity, my game and my qualities. So for me, coming back to France is a great opportunity to catch up.
Did you imagine coming back to Laval one day?
Frankly sometimes I imagined a little but it was only imagination. Afterwards, it’s true that I was very surprised, but in a good way, because it’s incredible to come back to play in your city. I even have a friend who said to me: ‘Do you realize, I’m coming back to your town, there’s nothing better!’. It’s great. It’s fun, really. I imagined it sometimes from afar, a few years ago, but now it’s really becoming reality and I’m happy. In addition, for the record, I never set foot on the field of Le Basser, I never once touched the lawn there. Despite all the years, I went several times to see the matches but I never went to the field.
Like his father, he will wear number 8 in the team and is therefore the third recruit after Djibril Diaw and Steven Nsimba presented on Monday. We are still waiting at least three more arrivals at Laval Stadium.