after New Caledonia, direction Guyana for the footballers from Thionville

The US Thionville Lusitanos players are really lucky in the draw. After their trip to New Caledonia a year ago, they are preparing to spend a week in Guyana to compete in the eighth round of the French Football Cup. A human adventure which once again promises to be exceptional.

The US Thionville Lusitanos footballers are preparing to leave the frost of Moselle to reach Cayenne to compete in the eighth round of the Coupe de France. With 30 degrees predicted this Monday in Guyana, the thermal shock promises to be severe. But for the people of Lorraine, this kind of sunny journey would almost become a habit.

A year ago, the draw had already sent them to New Caledonia. A week-long trip from which they returned tanned and with the qualification in their luggage. This season, the club, like many others in mainland France, volunteered again to possibly play overseas. And bingo! This time, chance chose the only French local authority located in South America.

“We must be envious”

Julien François, coach of the US Thionville Lusitanos

“Last year, we didn't expect it, but this time even less! smiles Amine Groune, one of the USTL offensive players. For it to fall on us twice in a row is something exceptional. It shouldn't have happened much in the Coupe de France. We're super happy and we're going to enjoy it.”

“We are really lucky in the draw. We are leaving for another adventure on another continent, Julien François, the Thionville coach. These are exceptional human adventures which give cohesion to a group. To be entitled to it twice in a row, I think we must be envious.”

This trip, entirely supported by the French Football Federation (FFF), will also leave some disappointed. Only 18 players out of the 25 squad will have the chance to go to Guyana. The lucky ones, who will be accompanied by five members of staff, will only be informed of their departure this Sunday.

The club which knew its potential destination before playing its seventh round match (3-0 victory against Boulay) had to anticipate: the entire group was vaccinated against yellow fever two weeks ago. Those who travel will also have to take treatment for malaria during their stay.

Last year, the journey and qualification in New Caledonia launched the Thionvillois into a formidable epic in the Coupe de France. After eliminating Annecy, a Ligue 2 club, in the next round, the fans fell with honors against Olympique de Marseille (0-1), during a memorable 32nd final in a sold-out Saint-Symphorien stadium. .

This week in the middle of the Pacific helped cement a group, which would finish champion of N3 (fifth division) at the end of the season. Some players are still there, others arrived as reinforcements this summer. Everyone at the club hopes that this trip to Guyana will have the same unifying virtues.

“We're not going on vacation, the goal is to qualify, says Théo Junker, one of the USTL goalkeepers. But we will also use this trip to create more links between us, because we have quite a few new players, it will allow us to get to know each other better.”

“The players will live an extraordinary experience. They will spend more than a week together, it will bond them and it will then translate onto the field, predicts François Ventrici, the president of the club. It worked really well last year and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work this year.”

If the objective of their season remains to remain in N2, the Thionvillois could well see themselves signing a new dream course in the Coupe de France, “this time with the reception of PSG or FC Metz” hopes François Ventrici.

It will first be necessary to reach the 32nd finals by beating in the Guyanese heat and humidity l’AS Matoury or the Aigles d’Or Mana (the two teams face each other on Saturday November 23). As for the draw next, Thionville has good reasons to believe in its star.