It’s not just the Eiffel Tower that shines. At the foot of the iconic Parisian monument, the French blind football team has been making sparks since the start of “their” Paralympic Games. Winners over China and Turkey – and defeated by Brazil – in the group stage, the Blues won in a thrilling match against Colombia on Thursday. They will play for gold on Saturday at 8pm against the world champions Argentina, who beat the five-time Paralympic champions Brazil, who were undefeated at the Games.
Little known until a few days ago, the discipline – which is an adaptation of football and is practiced by visually impaired athletes who find their way around thanks to the sound of the ball with bells and the instructions of the staff – is now thrilling the French. And one player in particular has won their hearts: captain Frédéric Villeroux, nicknamed by followers the “Messi of blind football”.
As a symbol, it was he who delivered his team and the 12,000 spectators in the semi-finals thanks to a powerful strike under the bar of the Colombian goalkeeper, scoring the only goal of the match four minutes from the end. He had also found the opposing net in the previous match against Turkey (2-0), contributing to qualification in the last four.
“There were no stars before him, he is the star”
But the Montpellier native has not only been noticed for his achievements. His ease on the pitch never ceases to amaze: always placed in the right place as if he were magnetizing the ball, a formidable dribbler capable of moving up the pitch or piercing the opposing defense, the number 10 of the Blues shows his opponents all the colors.
And for good reason: unknown to the general public, he is nevertheless an icon of the discipline, one of the best in the world, and a historic player of the French team. “He has always been the ambassador of blind football. I am happy that France is discovering, the whole world has known Frédéric for years and the beginning of blind football. You ask the question to all the opponents, he is a formidable player and feared throughout the world”, praised Toussaint Akpweh, after the semi-final on RMC.
The captain of the Blues since 2006 stands out for his versatility. “He is a complete player, with a diverse and rich technical palette, with a phenomenal mentality. There have been no stars before him, he is the star!”, continued the coach. If he attracts all eyes with the ball at his feet, Frédéric Villeroux prefers to stay in the background once he leaves the field. “I am very, very proud of the team”, he simply commented after the qualification in the last four.
Already present at the Athens Games in 2004
At 41, this father of three who discovered blind football in… 1998 has been through it all with the French team, the highs and the lows. He has seen it evolve, he has welcomed the newcomers and guided them. He was already part of the group that finished 5th in Athens in 2004, when the discipline made its debut at the Paralympic Games. He was also there when the Blues won the silver medal in London in 2012, writing one of the finest pages of French blind football.
He did not escape the tensions between the disabled sports federation, the coach – who wanted blind football to leave the French disabled sports federation and be recognised by FIFA – and some of the management, putting a stop to the development of the discipline in the country between 2012 and 2018. He was still there when Toussaint Akpweh returned to the bench, then when France finished last in 2021 in Tokyo, five years after failing to qualify for the Rio Games.
He was of course there when he and his teammates were crowned European champions in 2022 against Turkey. And now he has the chance to win the Grail, against the Argentinians. A grand finale before retiring? “I think it will be the end, yes, the body is starting to sting. I’m not recovering as much and as well,” he revealed ahead of the final.
“Athletes above all”
Suffering from a congenital eye disease and visually impaired since childhood, Frédéric Villeoux is also a sports instructor for able-bodied and disabled people at Sport athlétique mérignacais, in the suburbs of Bordeaux. Like him, his teammates are “only” amateurs and have a job on the side. But he is convinced that these Paris Games will be a real accelerator for the development – and professionalization – of the discipline.
“I think people have been made aware. Of course about sport, but secondly, we have shown that we have qualities, know-how, and I hope that in the end, they will all leave with the view that we are athletes first and foremost. Of course, with a disability, but athletes,” he rejoiced before the semi-final.
Proof of the magic of the Games, the public really got into the game, especially with the “céciola”, these silent waves to respect the silence necessary for the smooth running of the games. “I thank all the French people who are in this stadium, in front of the TV (…) It gives you chills, it makes you want to take the little extra step to go and score and I thank everyone”, he reacted on Thursday, happy that his discipline is (finally) taking the spotlight. But preferring, once again, to remain in the shadows.
- RMC Sport
