Rare are the speeches of footballers with so much depth. This Tuesday, Ibrahima Konaté was present in front of the media for the traditional press conference before the Nations League match against Israel scheduled for this Thursday. And if he first mentioned with humor his outfit worn during the famous climb of the steps of Clairefontaine, he then perfectly switched to the retirement of Antoine Griezmann, the case of Kylian Mbappé, absent from this gathering, but also this necessarily special match against Israel, which has been bombarding Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
“I don’t have the words to describe the horror we see”
Facing journalists, he delivered a long tirade committed to a match that was inevitably unlike any other: “A match like any other, no. But in reality, we are here to play football, the most important thing is to win and take three points. But what is happening in the world does not leave us indifferent. If I ask you the same question (addressed to the journalist), are you aware of it (of what is happening on site Editor’s note), you will say yes. What we see on the networks is abominable, I don’t have the words to describe the horror we see“, first explained the Liverpool player.
“But imagine the children who have access to these videos”
To continue his remarks, he then expressed alarm at the young audiences who can have access to videos of what is happening in Gaza: “I have the lucidity to say to myself ok, what is happening is very serious, I am doing what I have to do, but the ones I am worried about are the young people. We see adults crying about what is happening in the world on TV sets, but imagine the children who have access to these videos, videos of adults and children being beheaded, imagine the impact that this can have on new generations. I worry about them, but also about the people who are suffering around the world“.
“If we can raise awareness beyond religion, conflicts”
Finally, he wanted to send a message of peace by posing as spokesperson for the French team: “It’s war, there were things that led to this, fighting terrorism is one thing, but civilians who have nothing to do with it and who are killed en masse, that hurts me. We must not neglect what is happening, any injustice, any death, it is difficult to watch and accept. What I want, and I speak on behalf of everyone in the group, is peace in the world, for everyone to get along well. It’s almost impossible to live today, if we can help through our behavior and kindness, if we can raise awareness beyond religion, conflicts, we are human beings, certainly with different skin colors , but we are together. If we can remember that, remember that life is short and that we are happy to live with the people around us, we would live in a better world“.
To summarize
Ibrahima Konaté, the defender of the France team, gave a strong speech before the Blues’ match against Israel, discussing the situation in Gaza. The Liverpool player explained that he had “no words to describe the horror we are seeing”.
