SM Caen. Thomas Raimbault, the extraordinary trajectory of a player trained in New Zealand
Through Aline Chatel
Published on
never Thomas raimbault heard of his namesake Arthur Rimbaud during his schooling. In New Zealand, Le Dormeur du Val is certainly a long way off. However, fate reserved a funny nod to this young man who left France at the age of three. A club that adopted the name of another poet recruited him a few months ago. Raimbault to Malherbe, on paper, it could stick.
A father in the cinema
However, don’t ask this 20-year-old left-hander to write verses in the language of these illustrious authors. “I don’t write well in French at all because I did all my schooling in English,” he says with a barely perceptible accent. At home, my parents spoke French but my brother and I were answered in English. A native of Levallois-Perret, in the Hauts-de-Seine, Thomas Raimbault was just a little boy when his father, a specialist in special effects in cinema, brought his little family to the other side of the Globe.
My father works in special effects for the cinema. He took part in films like Avatar, Tintin … He is a very creative person.
In New Zealand D1
In New Zealand, Thomas Raimbault first tried his hand at rugby. Almost an obligatory passage in the land of kiwis. “I didn’t like it too much,” he confesses. It was the round ball, the one that had already fascinated his grandfather before him, that caught his attention. Thomas Raimbault quickly reached the top of the national scale. Without drawing any attraction from it.
The level is not exceptional. Only one team is professional in New Zealand and it plays in the Australian league.
In 2017, the Raimbault once again packed their bags. Direction Canada. “We left for my father’s work but also for the children, football on my side and educational opportunities on the side of my little brother, who got into music. Thomas continued his classes in Vancouver with the firm intention of climbing the ranks with the ball. “Unfortunately, a lot of things haven’t gone very well with the Covid. I returned to New Zealand. ”
A successful trial this summer
It took more, however, to discourage the boy… and his father. When the latter sent to Stade Malherbe a video of his son’s productions, the response was not long in coming.
They offered to come and do a one-week trial. I was very lucky because they get a lot of videos and can’t watch all of them.
The test carried out in July cut short the holidays with the grandparents but above all convinced the weed management staff to give this winger a chance with an extraordinary career. Thomas Raimbault joined the reserve team. Saturday 23 October 2021, freshly qualified, he played his first National 2 match.
In Caen, along with his own
In Normandy, Thomas Raimbault wants to seize his chance. “I try to play well and train well in the hope of signing a pro contract with Caen. Being a professional in Europe has always been my dream. A dream that comes at a price. The young man lives at the training center in Malherbe, far from his mother who remained in Canada with his little brother, far from his father who is working again in New Zealand.
Sometimes I feel a little lonely but I realize that I am very lucky to be here. It’s okay if it’s a little harsh sometimes. I am focused on the foot.
The Franco-New Zealander easily got used to the French culture again. “I’m still French, so it’s done well,” he smiles. However, life is very different in New Zealand. It’s quieter there, maybe because it’s a very small country and an island. But France is a great country too. I am very happy to be here. “And even without the pen of Arthur Rimbaud, Thomas Raimbault hopes to write a good story at the Stade Malherbe.
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