TFC INTERVIEW. Bafodé Diakité: “In Toulouse, I experienced exceptional moments”
Born in Toulouse and trained at TFC, which he joined at 13, Bafodé Diakité took off this summer to join Lille. This Saturday, the Pitchoun returns to his former club (9 p.m.): for La Dépêche, “Bafo” looks back on the highlights of his life in purple.
How did your integration at Losc go?
Good ! Firstly because I knew some players in the squad, like Isaac Lihadji or Lucas Chevalier, whom I worked with in the selection. Mohamed Bayo too: after a match, when he played in Clermont, we sat down, we talked. We were well concerned. So I had those benchmarks. And Losc already had a good group before my arrival. When you have good people in front of you, and you too are not complicated, it happens all by itself.
Beyond a change of club, your departure for Lille is also a change of life, for you who were born and have always lived in Toulouse. How did it go ?
In 6e, I was in boarding school 2h30 from Toulouse, in Boulogne-sur-Gesse, and I only came home on weekends. Every Monday, I left home at 4am, I took the bus at 5.45am, I arrived at school at 8am. So I was used to being away from my family. It is certain that going to Lille is a big leap. So far so good, I’m adjusting well. I took my accommodation, everything is fine.
You have been a holder since the 3e daytime. Do you expect such a fast integration?
Honestly, no. I told myself that I would need time to prove myself, like any new player. But the coach trusts me.
We sent you fulfilled sportingly in Lille. After nine years at TFC, was it the right time to leave and take on a new challenge?
Clearly. I experienced the descent, then the ascent. In my head, I had done the job, we had done the job with the team. The supporters wanted us to put the TFC in its place, and we did. Me, my path led me elsewhere. At the time of the descent, I felt that I had to help the club to return to the top. He deserves it. And in the same way, as soon as we reached our goal, I felt we had to leave.
Today, are you having fun again?
Play me feels good. It’s been a long time since I’ve known the joy of starting and stringing together matches. It is on the ground that we take pleasure. Even if we won last season, it was a bit frustrating to be on the bench. Even if that’s what had to happen, that’s how it is (laughs).
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What memories do you keep from the last season?
These are exceptional times. Already, succeeding in a climb with your training club is not common. To do it in addition with a group in which there are your teammates from the academy, it’s almost unbelievable. The chances of a generation becoming pro are very slim, as we know. So having so many in the first team is huge. And in addition to going up… There is nothing better.
How to explain the success of this 2000-2001 generation, with Amine Adli, Anthony Rouault, Manu Koné, Moussa Diarra, Nathan Ngoumou and the others?
Everything starts from the epic in Gambardella in 2019. We had a fairly complete group to go to the top level. The club saw it and trusted us to take us there.
Did the strong friendship that binds you also help?
I think yes. Because when we see that one of us can do it, we say to ourselves “ah, I would like to do it too! And the fact that they’re your friends, you want to get there with them, there’s extra motivation.
Moussa Diarra told us about a discussion group between you. Are you a little roomy this week?
No, not even. In fact, we never go to bed! We are not in that attitude. We did as usual, we continued to talk to each other normally. We are just in a hurry to see each other, to be able to give each other news “face to face”. But sleeping, no.
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Are you preparing for this match against TFC differently?
I will prepare it normally. Toulouse is a stage in my life that has been made. It will have a particular flavor, but in my mental preparation, I will approach it as a match like the others. We are still frustrated with our defeat in Marseille (2-1 the previous day, editor’s note), we know that we have to recover this weekend. And win, so.
If you had to keep one highlight from your nine years at TFC, which one would you choose?
Really, just one? I can’t keep two?
Come on, we leave you a joker…
Well, if there is a joker… Obviously the rise in Ligue 1 last season is a very strong moment. Then, even if we did not win it, there is the final of the Gambardella Cup in 2019, Finally rather the Gambardella adventure. Yes… Living that with people I grew up with, because that’s what we’re talking about, with so many years in a training center, growing up; it stirs up the feelings. Even if we lost the final, the fact of having experienced this course with them is fantastic. If I had to do this adventure again, well, I would like to win the final at the end, but I would do it again ten times.
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You arrived at the TFC at 13 years old. Before, there was the TAC (Toulouse Athletic Club), the only other club you knew. What does it represent for you?
I don’t have the words. It was the club that made me want to continue playing football. Because at the base, I was not really in the idea of playing football in a club. I was not a fan… But it was the TAC trainers, all the people at the club, who pushed me, gave me this desire. I can only ask them.
How do you view the revival of the TFC?
Many people expected change. The last years before the arrival of RedBird, I did not feel concerned, since I was still at the training center. But the new management has done something very beautiful: to make the inhabitants of Toulouse want to come and see the TFC play every weekend. That’s what was missing.
You were the host of the stands last season, after the victories at the Stadium. Do you feel the love of the supporters?
This is a very good example to illustrate what I was saying. This link between players and supporters has been reestablished. At the end of each match, they remained for this battle cry in front of the tribune, these were fabulous moments, which proved that the mission had been accomplished. These supporters satisfy happiness, and that’s all I wish for them.