Jean-Claude Novou, one of the emblematic figures of Mahorean sport, died at the age of 77. His death was announced by his family this Tuesday evening. Since then, anonymous people and personalities have paid tribute to their former colleague, teacher or coach.
He was one of the players in Mahorais sport, Jean-Claude Novou died at the age of 77 this Tuesday, October 8 in Reunion, where he had been hospitalized. A disappearance ten days after a ceremony organized in his honor in his commune of Dzaoudzi-Labattoir. For many, he was a voice, the one who commented on matches and hosted sports broadcasts on RFO, which has since become Mayotte the first. For the less young, it all started with “Ndrevou”, the bearded man. Nearly 50 years ago, he was the first physical education and sports teacher at the only college in Mayotte, in Dzaoudzi.
A role that he continued as a football coach. One of his passions is basketball, handball, athletics, swimming and even cycling. He was also the Mayotte cycling champion for four years between 1960 and 1965, one of his many sporting titles. Jean-Claude Novou’s career is not just about the fields and the stands. Before retiring in 2002, for example, he was the first head of the youth and sports department in the department, where he notably managed sports equipment.
Jean Claude Novou: a tribute to his height
“I don’t have the words to express my pain, we lost a great man“, reacts one of the former students. In the streets of Petite-Terre, another passerby says: “regardless of the generations he rubbed shoulders with, he knew how to instill the value of sport.“A footballer remembers that he”often came to watch our matches, supervise us, give us advice“There is no shortage of testimonies.”everyone knew Jean-Claude Novou in Mayotte” confirms a passerby.
On social networks also anonymous and personalities salute the memory of the sport foundation. “Mayotte loses one of its baobabs with the disappearance of Jean-Claude Novou, a wonderful gentleman whose work and generosity we celebrated only a few days ago“, announces MP Estelle Youssouffa. Writer Nassur Attoumani pays tribute to his former teacher and “to the long friendship that had always brought us together for more than 50 years.”
“His name and his voice on the sidelines or on the radio will remind each of us of a memory or a humorous exchange with him.“, notes the town page of Pamandzi, recalling that he had been the teammate of Mayor Madi Madi Souf then coach of the deputy in charge of sports”to name just a few“The departmental council, his former employer, expresses its”recognition for his immense contribution to the development of sport on our island.“
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