Larissa Zoumarou : “Defend the national colors with pleasure”

In this eleventh issue, the editorial staff of your favorite magazine CHABALA went to meet a hopeful Beninese handball who lives in France and combines study and sport. Larissa Zoumarou since it’s about her, spoke to us about his ambitions to one day defend the national colors. Read instead !

Introduce yourself to the readers first

They call me Larissa Zoumarou. I am a master's student 2 France in Finance. I do management control. But I am also licensed within SCB handball.

Handball and you, how the love story started ?

This is a story that started very early because my mother and my aunt were handball players., Besides, my mother still is since she continues to play for the women's team of the Ministry of Sports of Benin. She had to prove herself with the Lumière HBC and Flambeau Sporting Club d’Abomey teams.. She is also a trainer with the D IHF license. From the stories I was told afterwards, I touched the ball the first time 2 years because she took me to training and group meetings, and if possible at matches. Once in college, I got back to training and playing in the school championship. I was part of the team at Lycée Houffon in Abomey. Therefore, we trained with Flambeau Sporting Club in Abomey.

Why choose the goalkeeper position ?

I also play on the field but my coach at the time quickly suggested putting me in the cage and trained me only for that. Since that day, I feel more urban as a guardian and I like being one.

What relationship do you keep with your origins? ?

Well a very good relationship, I lived almost all of my adolescence in Benin, I'm in France for studies and I'll see what opportunities I have later. But nothing will take away who I am and where I come from : The Benin.

What is your opinion on the evolution of Beninese handball with the new management team? ?

I find that there are developments on several points. Access to more training for coaches, the regular running of championships at various levels, as well as participation in international competitions at club and national team level, I would like to take this opportunity to send all my congratulations to the management team which spares no effort to reveal Beninese handball internationally., also invites the Ministry of Sports to further support the Beninese Handball Federation, to enable it to achieve its objectives, specifically in the training of young girls at the base, Which would allow us to have a very competitive senior women's national team like Angola for example on the African level and why not like France.

Would you be ready to come and defend the national colors ?

Of course. It will be with great pleasure to come and defend my country at any time, I am Beninese and it will be a pride to respond promptly to the country’s call.

Final words

Thank you very much to the editorial staff of CHABALA who thought of my modest person. I send strength to all sponsors, the FBHB management team, the players, framers, leaders,…who continue to work for the smooth running of handball in Benin.

TECHNICAL SHEET

Last name : Zoumarou

First name : Larissa Mariette

Nickname : Bestseller

Date of Birth : 14/02/2000

Asset : Junior referee

Current club : SC Beaucouzé HB

Previous club: Flambeau Sporting Club

Interview conducted by Gaël HESSOU