- Benjamin Kololli is back in the red and white jersey, after leaving it in 2014.
Benjamin Kololli is back at FC Sion, the club which opened the doors to the professional world for him more than ten years ago. Now, with a very different status, Bellerin returns determined to write the continuation of a story that he still considers unfinished.
It was a smiling Benjamin Kololli who was presented to the press this Thursday. The Chablaisien does not hide it: he is happy to come back “home”, to FC Sion. It was in fact within the Valais club that the winger made his debut as a professional footballer. It was during the 2013-2014 season. He played 18 games there, scoring two goals.
Only, everything hadn’t gone as planned for him. “ At that time, it was difficult for a young person to get playing time. They put me on defense, even though I had always been an offensive player who wanted to score goals. » To find his happiness, Bellerin had to go into exile. First in Mont-sur-Lausanne, then in Lausanne, Zurich, and for two and a half years in Japan, at the Shimizu S-Pulse.
Write the end of the story
Almost twelve years after his last minutes played in the Valais jersey, Benjamin Kololli will therefore return to the red and white colors, but with a different status. That of an experienced player, aged 32. Above all, he will be keen to “close the loop”, which he was unable to do at the time. “ I had started to write a little story in Sion, before having to leave. That’s why it makes me happy to come back here. »
Certainly, the Vaudois’ last experience did not go as planned. Landed a year ago at FC Basel following the end of his Japanese adventure, Benjamin Kololli never managed to really secure a starting place. Over the first six months of this 2024-2025 season, the Chablaisien was only fielded four times. Last time? Last August 31, with a playing time of 19 minutes against… Sion.
In what state of form?
« I never liked sitting on the bench. It was impossible for me to continue under these conditions. » Everything then happened very quickly. “ We have known each other for a very long time with Barthélémy Constantin (the sports director). We both worked in the club offices while I was finishing my apprenticeship. We saw each other twice and the matter was over. »
The former FC Monthey junior now wants to prove himself useful as quickly as possible, within a team which has had a good start to the year and which occupies seventh place in the Super League, just five points behind leader Lugano. “ The most important thing will be to do good preparation, to save as many minutes as possible during the friendlies. I want to be a starter and help this team stay at the top of the rankings. ».
“A boy with a very good mentality”
FC Sion coach Didier Tholot also expects a lot from Benjamin Kololli. The French technician described the Kosovar international as “ a real plus for the team ». « He is an experienced, powerful player who can play in many positions. In the middle, behind and even in front. He is also a boy with a very good mentality.»
Benjamin Kololli will have the opportunity to prove all this to his trainer in the coming days. FC Sion will fly this Friday and until January 11 to Morocco, where a training camp and three friendly matches will be held. Before the resumption of the Super League championship on January 18, and the reception of Grasshopper at Tourbillon.
Thierry Nicolet
