Cédric Yambéré: “The last training in December, I tackled, my knee turned… And the Girondins had to give me the decision after training…”

“I’m in Lormont. We climb CFA2, a unique climb. That year, if I didn't say something stupid, I spoke with the President of Bergerac. There was a player who was supposed to sign there, and I thought it was good. The President decides to receive me and asks me what I want. I told him that basically I wanted to be an educator, that I wanted to pass my BP JEPS. He had everything in terms of training, so I had negotiated a small fixed price for accommodation and training. I would have shot at 1600€, and that was huge for me. It's still huge anyway. We agree on that. Then, in the end, I don't feel it, I tell myself that he's making me sign to get my friend to sign… I don't know, there's something that tells me 'don't go there'. I have always followed my instinct. I call him, I thank him for what he did, what he offered me. He asks me why, he thought I must have received a higher offer. I tell him no, that I'm going to stay in Lormont, because I feel better there. There were a lot of people who laughed, I remember, telling me that I was afraid… When I wasn't. This episode is over, we do the preparation with Lormont, and this is where the first contacts are made with the Girondins. They want to see me, and so, as I was working – since Lormont had found me a 35-hour shift – I go there every Wednesday. From September to December. The last training in December, I tackled, my knee turned… And they had to give me the decision after training… I couldn't walk anymore, it was my first real injury. The doctor tells me it's okay, it's just a minor knee sprain. In the end, I go into the office, and they made me sign. I signed for a year and a half, and that's how my adventure at the Girondins began, with Patrick Battiston, Pierre Espanol, Marius Trésor, and today I am where I am… I came back to give a helping hand, experiencing emotions.”