Alouettes: Kerfalla Exumé wanted to stay at home

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MONTREAL – To his delight, defensive back Kerfalla Exumé will continue his adventure with the Alouettes. 

The 28-year-old Quebecer has signed a contract one season with the Montreal club and will therefore be playing a third campaign ahead of his own.

“Wearing the colors of my hometown is a great source of pride,” Exumé said on the phone. We have the best fans and I have the privilege of playing in front of my family. It's exceptional to have the chance to see my children after all my matches.”

“To be able to continue playing in and for my city, it was very important.”

< p>The number 41 of the “Sparrows” became a free agent on February 14. If his agent spoke with other teams, the mission given to him by Exumé was to find common ground with the Alouettes.

“This is my home here. We have started to build something very good and I still want to be part of the equation that will bring a Gray Cup back to Montreal.”

Confidence in Maciocia

Exumé has established himself as a key special teams player since playing in the Canadian Football League (CFL). His qualities have regularly been praised by coordinator Byron Archambault and it's a safe bet that he wouldn't have become a free agent if general manager Danny Maciocia had had the right to spend in the last few weeks.

The circuit finally put the club under conservatorship last week and untied the GM's hands.

“It must have complicated things [for Maciocia] for sure,” said Exumé. Players, we don't really know what's going on. It is still early in this process.”

The footballer is obviously eager to be fixed in the face of the uncertainty surrounding the owners of the team, but the presence and expertise of Maciocia reassures him about the future of the organization. The man was his coach during his career with the Carabins of the University of Montreal (UdeM).

“We know what he is capable of. With UdeM, he built an excellent program and he won. We have confidence in his vision.”

“We have to keep the confidence and maintain the objectives that we have established,” he added.

Getting a hand

Exumé made the jump to the CFL in 2019, after being drafted in the eighth round by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. From that season, he became a threat on special teams and he contributed to the victory of the Manitoba club in the game of the 107th Gray Cup final.

The speed of the one having joining the Alouettes in 2021 regularly allows him to be the first player to reach opposing kick returners and he fully endorses this mission.

“It's a role that goes under the radar more often, but I take great pride in playing on special teams. I put my hands in the dough to help the team and I go there 100%.”