Zapping Our Mondial EXCLUDED: Édouard Mendy’s “Little Brother” interview!
Here are some excerpts from our interview with Gérald Baticle. The entirety of this 2-page interview can be found in Onze Mondial magazine n°348, available on newsstands and on our eshop since March 3.
“When I was very young, I was a mini Eto’o, I was a real surface fox”
UziCredit Photo – @zeubleuart
What is your relationship to football?
I fell into football compared to my father, he watched the matches on TV all the time. With my older brothers, we would sit with him, at home. Over time, you get a taste for it, and by dint of watching the matches, you want to play too. From what he says, my father played good football. Afterwards, I never saw him play (smile). You know, the darons, they will always tell you: “I was a good player at the time”.
Did you play in a club?
Yes, I played in a club until U15, I took a license at Noisiel and then at Vaires. I had a good level, I was a good player, right-handed. The more time passed, the more I played on the wings: left attacker, right attacker. When I was younger, I played defensive midfielder and striker too.
What type of player were you?
When I was very young, I was a mini Eto’o (smile), I was a real surface fox. I remember an exploit, during a derby Noisiel – Champs-sur-Marne in U15, it was outside, I had put a free kick in the top corner. It was a beautiful moment, the match was electric.
Would you like to break into football?
Yeah, I would have liked! It must be fun life as a professional footballer, it’s really another dimension, another world. I would have liked it, but hey, life decided otherwise…
Did you quickly realize that it was dead or did you have a little hope?
No, we quickly understood… the cruciate ligaments quickly appeared (laughs). After a while, it’s not the time, you have to pass.
Do you have friends who have succeeded in football?
There is Yacine Bourhane who has just taken part in the CAN with the Comoros, he is a guy from Noisiel, there is also Julien Vetro who is a big talent from Bordeaux. Next to Noisiel, we have Roissy-en-Brie, we have several people in common with Paul Pogba. There is also Stanley N’Soki. We often exchange on the networks. I have known him for a long time, because I have family in his town.
If you had been a footballer, how would you have behaved?
If I had been a soccer player, I would have been Cristiano Ronaldo, because he is a hard worker, a hard worker, he never gives up. I could quote you Samuel Eto’o or Didier Drogba.
Boy, which players made you love?
Ronaldinho and Zidane made me love it. At the time, it was more challenging, there were several great players. You could like Ronaldinho, Zidane, R9, Thierry Henry or Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes… Football was more complete. Today, it is more closed. We had Ronaldo and Messi for a long time. And that’s all. There are fewer great players.
Who are the players who can take over in your opinion?
Haaland and Mbappe. And me, I have a preference for Kylian. It is mandatory ! He’s a Frenchman, a guy from Paris, from the Parisian suburbs more precisely, not far from home, and it’s heartwarming to see a guy from a background similar to ours getting by and performing like that.
What is your favorite team?
I’ve always loved PSG, it’s Paris, it’s home. The match that marked me, I will quote the one that traumatized all the supporters: the Remontada… (he cuts). Oh no, I would tell you the Champions League final. We came so close. This defeat hurt me! Besides, I watched the match in Marseille so imagine…
Yes, I followed the CAN, for example. I watched all the matches, even though I am of Congolese origin (smile). I don’t know why I followed this AFCON so much, surely because I am a homebody. And it was really a great competition.
What do you remember from the CAN?
Football has changed, it is no longer necessarily the favorites who win. It’s not necessarily the teams that play the ball the most that win. It’s not necessarily the teams that have big individuals that win. Talent is no longer everything. You have great nations, with great players who can’t perform. Because the players do not manage to display the same level as in the club when they are in selection. In selection, it is the collective that prevails. We had some nice surprises during this AFCON like the Comoros, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, or Cape Verde. Usually you don’t see these teams. That’s why I thought it was a good CAN.
“The most beautiful atmosphere is the Vélodrome, we must not lie to each other. »
UziCredit Photo – @zeubleuart
Who are the players who pulled out of the game?
For me, the best player of this CAN is Vincent Aboubakar. He was very, very strong. Sadio Mané too, he pushed his team, he took responsibility when it had to be done. Mohamed Salah also knew how to lead his team to the final. These players have a different role in selection. They may not be as strong in the game as at club level, but they still manage to make the difference when the team needs them. I find that impressive. Because they are in another register, there, they are in team leader mode, it’s different.
What is the best league in your opinion?
The Premier League. There is no possible dispute on this subject, it is the best championship in the world. At all levels, it’s fluid. Everything is going fast, it’s impressive.
Do you still play football with your friends?
Occasionally (laughs). We had a match recently with ISK. We lost, but we will get revenge. On a few gestures, you can see that I have small remains.
You are releasing a new album, if you had to compare this release to a moment in a footballer’s career, what would you say?
(He thinks) I don’t really like making noise. I don’t like comparisons. But I would say that I arrive at a more upscale club and now I have to prove.
Do you make football references in this album?
I write a lot of texts, it’s hard to answer you in my head. In my Rotterdam sound, I say: “I took my time, I proved myself, I hold out for both halves, I’m here for ten seasons”, for example. It’s to show that I’m here to stay.
Is football important in the writing of your texts?
No, it doesn’t matter. But it’s good to make references, because football is an influential and much-loved sport. It’s a sport I enjoy and watch. It’s good to make footballing allusions from time to time. For example, Mbappé is often mentioned. Some players have real mentalities, which you appreciate, so you refer to them, because they convey good messages.
Who are these players with a real mentality?
Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Haaland, Benzema or even Hazard. I like Hazard a lot, even if he’s going through a bad patch. We can also mention Pogba and N’golo Kanté. They have a winning mentality, they are relentless in what they do. They’re not here to lose, that’s what I like about them.
In which stadium do you dream of doing a concert?
The Kamanyola Stadium in Kinshasa, returning to the country of my parents, it can be something big. Otherwise, you have the Stade de France too, it would be impressive.
Have you ever been to see games?
Yes, I have already been to the Parc des Princes, the Stade de France, the Vélodrome. The most beautiful atmosphere is the Vélodrome, we must not lie to each other. The supporters know how to set the mood, frankly, we can’t take that away from them. I haven’t done the bends in the Park yet, that’s something to see too.
to summarize
As the release of his second album approached, Uzi showed up at the offices of Onze Mondial. Presented as one of the strong new faces of French rap, the artist from 77, like many, played in a club during his youth. And if he quickly understood that he would not make a career, Uzi still remained an assiduous spectator of football. Interview.
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