Arrived from France to study at the University of Montreal, the current head coach of the FC Laval had joined the team of that same university. He also played in senior AAA, which was the highest level in the province at the time.

His strong performance on the field earned him the title of Canadian University Player of the Year. Later, he joined the Trois-Rivières Attak, the defunct Montreal Impact (CF Montreal) academy club, with which he was crowned Canadian Soccer League champion in the role of captain.

He then retired to start his career on the sidelines, becoming assistant coach with the University of Montreal Carabins.

Local Development

Shortly after his start in coaching, Coulibaly was approached by Marinos Papageorgopoulos, current manager of the CF Montreal Academy, who managed the former club of Chomedey. This was part of the merger leading FC Laval’s creation.

“He brought me to work with the 2002–03 group,” Coulibaly explained.”I had the chance to work as I wanted, and to have complete trust in what I was doing. We took our time.”

He admits the results weren’t always there at first.

“Results weren’t fantastic, but the youngsters have to learn how to lose games,” he said. “It’s necessary, and it pays off when you’re taking the time, and let young athletes develop.”

That age group’s also an integral part of the title won this summer by the FC Laval, in the men’s section of the Première ligue de soccer du Québec.

“They’re young people with whom I have had the chance to work since they were 11 or 12 years old,

“These are young people with whom I have had the chance to work since they were 11 or 12 years old,” Coulibaly said. “If we’re looking at the reserve team, they’re second in their league. They’re young athletes who are extremely solid mentally, and it turned out as we hoped.”

Collaboration

In addition to working with the younger players, Coulibaly continued to coach with the Carabins for a few seasons, winning two university championships.

It allowed him to rub shoulders with certain players, such as Wandrille Lefebvre, who is part of the champion edition of the FC Laval.

He is now 100 per cent focused on the performance of Laval’s team, while continuing his work with the Carabins. He believes the success of his project is linked to his collaboration with the players.

“I know I wasn’t always easy to manage as a player, because I had in mind what I wanted to do,” he admitted, laughing. “Today, it reflects on my way of coaching. The players want to be in charge of the project in the same way as the coaches. That’s the vision that I try to put in place by including everyone in the process.”

translated by Alec Brideau

L’article Boubacar Coulibaly: The Man Behind FC Laval’s Success est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

An inspiring story of that second block is Isabelle Campagna’s one, who’s coaching Laval’s girl softball team.

Campagna knows her sport very well, having played softball for about 20 years before becoming a coach about five years ago.

She developed a sense of attachment to the Jeux du Québec at a very young age, when her father took her to see the 1985 edition, in Charlesbourg.

“I was dreaming of participating in the Jeux du Québec since then,” Campagna said. “I told myself I was going to be a volunteer in Laval in 2020, that I was going to experience the event a different way. Because of COVID-19, it was postponed twice. Also, last year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.”

When the 55e Finale des Jeux du Québec – Laval 2022 was rescheduled to this summer, Campagna set herself the goal of coaching the women’s softball team, with her daughter then being eligible to play.

“For the past year, through all the treatments, it’s been my goal to be in a good enough shape to participate in the Jeux du Québec,” Campagna said. ” I told the doctors, nurses and everyone I’ve met that I was going to do anything possible to be where I am today. »

Furthermore, Campagna’s father is a volunteer for the 55e Finale des Jeux du Québec, making him the third family member involved in the event.

click here to read the article in French

L’article Involved in Softball Despite Cancer est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.