Member of the LOSC team which managed to return to the elite of French football at the end of the 20th century, Dagui Bakari was particularly touched by the people of Lille during the 80th anniversary celebrated on Sunday at the reception at Stade Rennais.
A striker with impressive physical characteristics, 1m97 and 97 kilos, Dagui Bakari (50 years old) was one of the architects of the resurrection of LOSC. Member of a locker room led by the strength of Vahid Halilhodžić, he won the French second division in 2000, the year in which the Mastiffs returned to Ligue 1 and its games. A few months later, the pivot, author of 24 goals in 99 appearances for Lille, took part in his team's exploit in Parma and discovered the joys of the Champions League.
Like more than a hundred former LOSC stars, Dagui Bakari appeared on the red carpet this Sunday, a few hours before the start of the match between the Dogues and the Bretons of Stade Rennais. He then stopped at our microphone, confiding to us his first impressions and his joy at reconnecting with the people of Lille whom he was learning to rediscover twenty years later.
80 years of LOSC with Dagui Bakari
“It’s a wonderful moment. I think there is great recognition among all the players who have passed through the club. To meet up and celebrate together, we are very happy to have this chance. Time flies and seeing each other again brings back very good memories for us all.”he said with a big smile to begin “the hostilities” with the press.
LOSC player from 1999 to 2002, Dagui Bakari did not seem lost this Sunday, almost at home in a stadium that he has never known: “Even if the club is evolving, we still completely recognize ourselves in its valueshe admitted. IThere is still this basis. We are all proud to be from Lille and the symptoms are always the same: never give up and always go all the way. What touches me is seeing the Lille population wearing the jersey. It's not at all something that was done at the time.
There is really a pride that has taken hold and it is mutual. We are just as much as them. »
“Jonathan David has scored more goals than me. I didn't allow myself to give him advice.”
Twenty later, what memory does he have of LOSC? “The climb is the greatest memory I keep of my Lille adventure. The club, at the time, had been waiting for this for a very long time. We were able to achieve this objective and restore the image knowing that there was a club like Lens nearby, which was gaining a little more attention. Now we go aheadsavors the one who played with Olivier Létang, current president of LOSC, at Le Mans. These years were the basis for building the club as we know it today. We did the work to go back and have our first experiences in Europe with the Champions League. It all started there, these are the fundamentals. »
Finally, to conclude, Dagui Bakari returned with us to a particular moment. A few weeks before this game, and this party, he proudly posed alongside Jonathan David and Loïc Rémy to participate in the club's communication. It was about the clichés LOSC Generations : “It was a very nice momenthe admits. We were several generations and rubbing shoulders, even evolution, was a very good sharing. I am very proud to be able to represent our city and our club. »
A moment of sharing? Were any little tips given? “Jonathan David scored more goals than me and I didn’t allow myself to give him adviceDagui Bakari tells us, amused. He will mark even more elsewhere. Today I am behind the screen and I support it from now on”he concluded with fervor.
