What still keeps Cheikh Ndoye running?
For the moment, this is not the end of his career! I'm still playing, it's going really well, I'm in good shape, I'm playing a lot of matches. I work, I enjoy playing. What still makes me run? Passion, always. I don't set an age to stop. As long as the body is well, I continue.
You joined Cannes, in National 2, at the beginning of October.
The sports director, Sébastien Pérez, contacted me and presented the project to me. It suited me. After Red Star (where he played from 2020 to 2024 in National, Editor's note)I wanted to stay in France.
Did you change position? We're asking you this because in the press release announcing your arrival, AS Cannes said they had recruited Cheikh Ndoye, the striker…
The first four or five games, I played attacker. Then I was repositioned in the middle. Basically, number 9 is not my ideal position, even if I played attacker in Senegal at the very beginning. Otherwise, I spent my entire career in Europe in the middle. At Red Star, Habib (To Mr.) made me play attacker, it worked well, I scored 11 goals in National (2021-2022). But there, I returned to my ideal position.
Even today, I run faster than the youngest. Sheikh is old, OK, this is reality, I can't deny it. But, at some point, talk about my performance.
Sometimes, do you think about the time when you were still at home, in Rufisque, in Senegal? You were a carpenter…
Of course. We must not forget where we come from. When I think about that, it gives me even more strength. I remember getting up in the morning, working out, eating breakfast and then going to work. Then I went back to training. It’s good that, in life, everything is possible. You just have to give yourself the means and have confidence in yourself. We must not rest on our laurels. I always dreamed of becoming a professional footballer.
Tell us about the day Salif Diao, former Senegalese international, sent you for a trial at Stoke City.
July 2007. First trip to Europe. I'm 21 years old. Even if nothing is certain, I am happy and proud. Compared to the administrative conditions in England, we know that it is complicated. I did ten days, then I came home. Yes, I didn't stay, but for me, it was more motivation to show that it's possible. And it was going to do it!
The other attempt to launch your career takes you to Saudi Arabia…
2009. Overnight, three of us went there for tests. I didn't ask myself any questions. It was a six-month contract. Unfortunately, I did not sign. I get injured while we are negotiating the contract. It wasn't easy, but I was able to overcome it. Mentally, I was strong.
Have you ever told yourself that you had to say goodbye to your dreams of professional Football?
No, not even. I knew I was going to sign professional one day.
If we tell you September 25, 2009…
My arrival in Épinal! With Christophe Diedhiou and Ibrahima Seck. I can see us getting off at Nancy station, then getting into this minibus towards Épinal. There were three of us, we then followed each other to Créteil. Our strength was solidarity, self-sacrifice and determination.
Ligue 1 discovered you when you signed for Angers in 2015. You were 29 years old. You are dominant in the middle, you score, the SCO is second behind PSG. There is this feeling that you are walking on water. How did you feel about it?
I didn't give up. I scored a lot (9 goals that season in L1). I have always been attracted to purpose. I remember the double against Ajaccio, the one against Monaco… But the most notable is the double in Lyon, for the last match at Gerland (2-0). Bakary Koné was at my marking. His teammates said not to give up on me. I score two identical goals, from set pieces, with a free kick from Thomas Mangani and a corner from Billy Ketkeophomphone. I appeal – counter-appeal every time. That season, the French discovered me. Everyone said: “Sheikh Ndoye, Cheikh Ndoye, Cheikh Ndoye!” »
You experience a lot with the SCO. In 2017, you reached the Coupe de France final. And you lose at the last minute against PSG on an own goal from Issa Cissokho.
I always have this action in mind. 92e minute of the Coupe de France final. History will record, unfortunately, that luck was not on our side. We have a full match. Football is cruel.
You are leaving for Birmingham, in the Championship, in the summer of 2017. Today, would you make the same choice?
It wasn't a bad choice! The problem is that after six games, the coach who brought me (Harry Redknapp) is fired. All the cards were redistributed. And, often, it is the recruits who are put aside in these cases. Afterwards, I played a lot of matches, except that I didn't always start (37 matches in 2017-2018, 28 starts).
Have you heard from John Terry?
He's not my boyfriend.
Your confusion caused a bit of a buzz.
It was during a derby between Birmingham and Aston Villa. A derby always hot. He started to insult, it started like that in the first leg. In the return match, I had forgotten that. I think he had prepared well with one of his teammates. There is a touch for us, I try to put the head. I see them talking. The other comes and stamps me. He falls and he (John Terry) comes and pushes me. I grabbed him by the neck. I take a second yellow and therefore a red card.
If I hadn't had this injury, I think I would still be playing in Ligue 2, at least.
In your story, there is of course the selection of Senegal. You are playing in the 2018 World Cup with the Lions of Téranga. You are eliminated in the first round based on the number of yellow cards. In particular, you received a warning at the very end of the match during the final match against Japan…
I jump, I push the ball, then there is (skinny) Sakai crying. I always had this label that I was tough. The referee didn't try to understand and gave me a yellow card when I touched the ball. But it wasn't just me who was warned…
With Senegal, in 2019, you suffered a serious knee ligament injury. Can we talk about a turning point in your career?
Yes, even if I can't regret this injury because every kid dreams of defending the colors of his country. I only deserved better than that with the national team. And if I hadn't had this injury, I think I would still be playing in Ligue 2, at least. In 2019, I still had a two-year contract with Angers in Ligue 1, with a possible retraining with them. Everything changed because of an injury.
You find yourself without a club in 2019-2020, pushing the door of France Travail.
It's hard, because you're a footballer, you're passionate, you don't play because you're injured and maybe also because all the clubs say to themselves: “He no longer has his previous level. He's old. » That, in France, is something: as soon as you reach a certain age, you're old, you're burnt out. As I said, I didn't go to a training center, I came from Senegal… I got tired of it and I'm tired of people talking to me about my age: they're just numbers ! You have to look at what I do on the pitch. Even today, I run faster than the youngest. Sheikh is old, OK, this is reality, I can't deny it. But, at some point, talk about my performance.
At Red Star, you knew Habib Beye. There is a lot of talk about him for a position in Ligue 1. What do you remember about him?
Honestly and sincerely, he is passionate. He loves and knows football. He is demanding. He loves his job.
The term “gross misconduct” was always for me. When I took a blow or a sole, there was nothing. It only went one way.
Is there anything in your career that you would do differently if you had to do it again?
I made good choices, I think. At the time, Angers didn't want to renew my contract and they let me go (in Birmingham, 2017). It wasn't me who wanted to leave. Then they did everything to get me back (2018). Behind, when I had this famous injury, they turned their backs on me. (He is still in dispute with his former club.) Today, I don't say it's a regret, but it's my destiny.
Earlier, you were talking about this label as a tall, strong player. Did this image hurt you?
At one point, it was detrimental to me. As soon as I went to the duel, a foul was called, and I easily got booked. Sometimes I had bad matches because I paid too much attention to the duels… It put me behind on the pitch. It penalized me. The referees told me: “You’re strong, be careful. » The term “gross misconduct” was always for me. When I took a blow or a sole, there was nothing. It only went one way.
So you often felt injustice.
All the time, all the time, all the time. I felt a little unfair, yes.
Is racism something you have faced?
I have never been insulted in stadiums. But, from time to time, I felt that I was the black man, the African. Particularly in relation to my performances. The season I had in 2015-2016, I wouldn't say that I wasn't highlighted… But if it's someone else who does that, Angers could have sold him for at least 10 million euros. But at the time, I was also 31 years old. And I say it again, I was called old.
Angers players will finally be paid
