"As it is currently managed, we are moving towards the best formula ", according to Charles Titigouéti
The selection of age group players was a crucial issue in Benin. But with the current reforms, the promoters of training centers have enormous hopes. In an interview he gave us, Charles Titigouéti, President of the Sports Training and Education Center (Cefes) read the situation. For him, Benin is now on the right track. Read instead !!!
How do you read the selection made at the level of age categories (U17 and U20) in the past ?
It must be said that there is not a Beninese football organization from the base. These different selections are taken from what is done at the academy level, at youth club level, age category clubs, of the different teams involved in the elite championships. Normally, these age category players should come from well structured Federation competitions. And these children should be followed from the age of 12 years, 13 years, 14 years and 15 years. They must be followed and present a cliché that allows actors to identify them and put them in the categories.
But since there is not a sufficient organization, It is with the jumbled information and with the work that the training centers do that these coaches manage to bring together the players to supervise them. If not, you are aware that to make these selections, until the recent past, it is an opinion that we launch. Because there is no organization around. You journalists, through these youth competitions, you have formats on players so on and at the end of each season, we have an idea of the potential talents that we can call in the U17 or U20 national team. This is not the case. So, the coaches try to see the contacts and then, he sets up a team. It's a shame because it is not always the best that we select. This is not obvious.
To hear from you, Looks like you're sweeping away everything that's been done ?
Non, not at all. The players we took and who came from recognized structures try to do as they can. The U17 selection which had been eliminated by the Ivory Coast was still a selection the majority of which came from training centers in Benin. Training centers that work with the means and conditions that you know. But it was they who produced this generation. I'm talking about the generation of Charbel Gomez who had done wonders over time. Maybe our team would go further than that if there was a good organization around.
Now do you think the deal has changed ?
As it is currently managed, we tend towards the best formula. I take as proof the reforms underway with the Ministry of Sports, the declared will of the Head of State to give young people the means to live out their passion with all this political desire and especially the determination of the President of the FBF, Mathurin De Chacus and all his team, I feel the coming days will be very good for us. Because if an icon like Jean Marc Adjovi-Boco gets involved in a business, this proves in advance that it is to have a better result. Production : Damien TOLOMISSI