Aurillac-Toulouse Final: Ruben Maka, the Cantal diamond that shines under the Red and Black colors
This is one of the great stories of this dream final between Aurillac and Toulouse. Sunday, at the Michelin, Cantal will be doubly represented. With the Rouge et Bleu, of course, and with Ruben Maka at the Rouge et Noir.
Because the Toulouse number 9, 18 years old since February and boss behind his scrum, is first and foremost a pure product of the Cantal training, grilling all the stages to win in the club of his dreams.
“Good blood can’t lie”, they say. In the case of Ruben, the predispositions to play rugby were obvious, for the son of Gaby Maka, a former Aurillac player, and whose mother also wore the jersey.
A kid above the rest from an early age
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Ruben also wore it, after having done all his initial career at Saint-Simon, where the father had finished his career. “At the age of 4, he was not yet allowed to play, but he wanted to go so badly that I took him away. He was already crazy about rugby, ”says Gaby, as proud as he is amazed by the dazzling career of his eldest.
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“Every year he was upgraded. As soon as he played against kids of his age, he was asked to go slowly, so as not to hurt others. With my wife, we made the decision to put him in Aurillac, so that he could play against kids like him. But as soon as he arrived at the Stadium, he was again upgraded. They saw that for his age he was above.
Gaby Maka, (Former Aurillac player and father of Ruben)
At Saint-Simon, Aurillac, or in the departmental selection, Ruben shines. And it escapes no one. “I have family at Stade Toulousain: the Tolofua family, Peato Mauvaka… We often have meals together. And of course, the kids play rugby. We make touches, small matches between us. My cousins saw that Ruben had something. They offered me to do a test with Toulouse. With my wife we were more in Clermont-Ferrand, because it was closer for us, ”says his father.
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“I have my say, I want to play in Toulouse”
Ruben’s talent had not escaped ASM, which regularly made foot calls. “When we asked Ruben, he said ‘I’ve always dreamed of Toulouse. Yes, Clermont is closer, but you are thinking of yourself. I have my say, and I want to play in Toulouse. I want the biggest club in Europe?! “recalls Gaby Maka laughing.
The test takes place, and Ruben only needed a morning to convince. “He had to do individual technique in the morning and match in the afternoon, but in the morning, Toulouse said ‘We take it?!'”.
He then imposed himself from his beginnings, with a title of champion of France cadets 2019 against Brive, and on the lawn of Figeac where his father played. And this season, he knocked on the door of the Hopes while he was still Crabos.
Saint-Simon, rugby cradle of the Maka brothers
Like Ruben, the two other children of the Maka couple have followed the family path. Currently in U14 at Saint-Simon, but with a double license with Stade Aurillacois, Aaron should evaluate with the Aurillacois cadets next season. The youngest, Eli, plays with the U12s of Saint-Simon.
“This year again they upgraded him, from November he was training with the Espoirs, but as he was 17 he could not play. One day he came into play, he proved that he had the level and he took the place of everyone. What was also obvious during the match between Toulouse and Aurillac at Ernest-Wallon (45-17), in the spring, where Ruben was everywhere, proof that this dazzling journey is perhaps only the beginning.
A royal road that contrasts with the course of his father
This course contrasts with that, more tortuous, of his father who paved the way, as he had paved the way for other Aurillacois.
“I had brought cousins, like Albert Valentin, Latuka Maituku, Berny Tokotuu or Vito Manukula. I knew they had a chance to play for Espoirs in Toulouse, Toulouse said no. But I never thought my kid would play there. When the Stadium calls you, it’s normal for mom and dad to be proud.
Himself arrived in mainland France at La Seyne-sur-Mer, anonymous and young in the 1990s, without knowledge of how French rugby works, Gaby Maka had traveled well before settling down in this Cantal where he was sworn never to settle.
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“At La Seyne, I had a trainer, Manu Diaz, who made me switch to Toulon. In the reserved team, there was Mignoni and company. When I saw that everyone was paid except me, I said “There is a problem”. Manu Diaz told me it was normal, they didn’t know me, I had to prove myself, ”recalls the former forward.
After two months, a cousin of mine – unfortunately deceased – Yvon Vili (Tani’s father), said to me: “Why not do a test in Brive”?? I was a kid, with big competition, Moscato and all. Laurent Seigne already had his team. I said to myself: “I find a club where I return to New Caledonia”
“And Yvon suggested that I come to Saint-Céré. They found me a job, a place to live. After 6 months I played against Saint-Cernin. I saw the snow and I said to myself “I will never set foot here again, is it forbidden?! laughs Gaby.
A meteorological trick with the air of providence
Until one day a certain… Alain Belguiral called him to do a test. “I asked where Aurillac was. In Cantal?? Oh no, I’m not going?! And Alain said to me: “you’ll see it’s less cold there than in Saint-Cernin”. I arrived in May. The weather was nice, I said to myself, a bit stupid, it’s spot on. And the first winter… olala?!!! “.
This little meteorological trick was a providence. With two visits to Aurillac for Gaby, who settled there permanently, met his wife there, and has now become a Cantalien.
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“Aurillac is home. For us, his mother and me, this final is something. In addition, I saw the Espoirs du Stade play, they are really strong, and we sent the leg of “Belgui”. What they achieve, it does not come from nowhere, with his staff, they do a remarkable job”.
On Sunday, the Maka parents will be at Michelin. They also sounded the recall of the family installed around Clermont to support Ruben. But for the old forward “it will be 50-50”. “The truth is the field. May the best win. That’s all “.
Text and photos: Jean-Paul Cohade