The Stade de la Source is hosting an international match this Wednesday. Exit the National and the US Orleans and make way for the Guadeloupe and Cape Verdean selections. A first in mainland France for Gwada Boys. And a first also for the captain of the USO, Nicolas Saint Ruf. Called up for the first time by the coach Jocelyn Anglomathe central defender will know his first minutes in the green jersey and delivers his first impressions in 100% USO this Tuesday on France Blue Orleans. Interview.
France Bleu Orléans: What does this first selection with the Guadeloupe national team mean to you?
Nicolas Saint-Ruf: It’s a source of great pride, of course. I know it was close to my parents’ hearts, they passed it on to me. I had this opportunity, in addition, in Orléans, so it’s even more fun since I’m from the region, so that’s good!
FBO: A match at the Stade de la Source, for you, it’s at home, there is almost no change, almost no impression of being in the selection even…
NSR: Exactly, I warned the manager at the club not to remove my sign in the locker room, since we will be changing in the same locker room as when I play for the USO. You could say that I am clearly at home.
FBO: Is this the first selection in a long series?
NSR: Yes, I hope that behind, there will be others. This is my first which I especially discover. I got to know my teammates a bit, the coach, all that and I see how they work after it’s up to me to be good and prove that I can come back.
Exactly, how is it going? The selection arrived this weekend, and you are training at the Stade de la Source.
NSR: I arrived on Saturday evening, they on Saturday morning. We trained on Sunday at La Source, exactly, we trained yesterday and today and then the match tomorrow for me against Cape Verde and after that I will return to the club.
FBO: To play in Avranches on Friday. You said that it was important to your parents to play for Guadeloupe. What is your relationship to Guadeloupe, precisely?
NSR: Both my parents were born there, I was born in Rouen, but I’ve always been used to going on vacation there. Even if my parents are in Rouen, I have a good part of my family who is there. It allowed me to have a great vacation too, I still have contact there, I have all my cousins, my grandparents who were there too. It allows me to keep in touch with the whole family.
It allows you to have another visibility, so that people who are in mainland France can discover this team from Guadeloupe – Nicolas Saint-Ruf
FBO: What is your role in this selection? Jocelyn Angloma said that you had shown the installations to everyone… Almost the big brother of this selection…
NSR: It’s clear, knowing that I know the route to go to the stadium, that I know a bit of everything, so it’s clear that on that, I oriented them a little since in addition, it’s the first time that they play a match in mainland France. It allowed me to integrate myself a little more and for them to know me a little better, quite simply.
FBO: It’s true that it’s an unprecedented moment, at least for the Guadeloupe team, to play in mainland France, to play against a team from Cape Verde which was eighth finalist of the CAN this year. It is important for the selection…
NSR: There is a big match against Cape Verde, there is also a match this weekend, against Martinique. And who says Guadeloupe Martinique, says derby. It allows you to have another visibility, so that people who are in mainland France can discover the team. Otherwise it’s on the networks, even on TV…
FBO: What should we expect in terms of play, Wednesday evening, face to face in Cape Verde? Are they the favourites?
NSR: Yes, they made the round of 16 at the last CAN (eliminated by Senegal, future winner, Editor’s note). It’s not nothing. So clearly, we are going there with intentions, obviously, we are not afraid of any worries. But we know that yes, Cape Verde is a nation that is recognized. We are only just making ourselves known, so it’s a good little challenge!
FBO: And in front of an audience that should be present in large numbers. The Guadeloupean community should come from Paris in particular…
NSR: Exactly and even in Orléans there is a good little community, so there should be a lot of people!
Guadeloupe-Cap Vert, it’s this Wednesday at the Stade de la Source. Kick off at 8 p.m.. Ticket purchase is available on the US Orléans website/Pages/PageSpectacles.aspx), eight to 12 euros. A physical ticket office is also set up on the day of the match, at the Stade de la Source, 10 to 15 euros.