A new signing has taken over the central defender position at Les Sables Vendée Football. It is Omar Baldé, a player very familiar to the club. Let’s take a closer look.
Chaker Alhadhur, who suffered a torn cruciate ligament against Mareuil on November 2nd, will miss the rest of the season. “He underwent surgery and everything went well,” confirmed club manager Jérémy Charneau. This is a huge blow for the team as it means losing an experienced player at the highest domestic level, particularly in Ligue 1 with Nantes.
More than a month and a half after losing their ‘star’ signing and starting centre-back, Les Sables Vendée Football had to act quickly. They managed to sign the impressive Omar Baldé (1.92 m).
The Senegalese defender has signed with a club he is familiar with until the end of the season.
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The 28-year-old made his debut as a regular against Vertou in the home game on December 14th, which was celebrated with a 2-1 win. For their upcoming league game, LSVF will travel to Cholet on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
Sand Journal: Can you imagine?
Omar Baldé: My name is Omar Baldé, I am 28 years old and I play as a central defender. I know the Vendée well; I played in Poiré-sur-Vie and especially in TVEC 85 for four years, from 2019 to 2024. I was team captain for two seasons.
What memories do you have of this time?
Very good memories, even if it didn’t end well last year with some payment problems. I left the club last summer and took a break from football, spending time down south with my mother and working in restaurants as I have done for the last four or five years.
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Why return to the club?
I still had my apartment in La Roche-sur-Yon. When I returned to the area, the club contacted me to replace Chaker Alhadhur. I then had a meeting with the president and we discussed with coach Jérémy Charneau what he expected from me. The project appealed to me, so I agreed.
Was returning after a six-month break too difficult?
I had a six-month break from football but I went to the gym regularly to stay fit. I did cycling and core workouts to avoid weight gain. The cardio was a bit challenging at first but knowing my body I was ready to play with the first team after three weeks.
Did it put too much pressure on you to replace a player like Chaker Alhadhur, who was somewhat of a ‘star’ signing in the summer?
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To be honest, I didn’t feel any pressure. I’ve been playing at this level for five years so I took it in stride and it went very well. The group really helped me. I was warmly welcomed. It felt like home!
What do you think of the LSVF’s incredible start to the season?
I know quite a few players, so I did some research. When I came back to the area, I came to watch them as a spectator and felt like they were a team in good spirits, which was evident on the pitch. Compared to what I experienced last year… I love it! I really enjoy training and if we continue like this we can aim for promotion.
And finally, what do you think about the town of Les Sables-d’Olonne?
I chose to live in La Roche-sur-Yon because that’s where all my friends are. But for me, Les Sables is a dream city.
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2024-12-26 17:26:00