CAN 2024: victim of an attack with Togo, dismissed by Sudan, Frenchman Hubert Velud finally participates in his first African Cup

Le Français Hubert Velud, véritable miraculé, va découvrir sa première CAN. MAXPPP TEAMSHOOT – VIRGILE

With Burkina Faso, Velud will finally play his first CAN. If all goes well…

Several times titled in Africa in club, the Frenchman Hubert Velud finally discovers with Burkina Faso the CAN, "the most beautiful African scene", after having been deprived of it twice at the last moment, notably in 2010 by an attack targeting the Togo team.

"I've been working in Africa for years”, recalls Hubert Velud, 64, who has been coaching on the continent since 2009. "I won titles but never made the CAN. However, we are in a profession where we always have to prove, this is the opportunity to prove a higher level,” analyzes the one whose team will begin the competition organized on the Côte d'Ivoire against Mauritania, Tuesday (3:00 p.m.) in Bouaké.

Two times Algerian champion in a row, with Sétif (in 2013, he even achieved the double by winning the Cup) and USMA (in 2014) , champion of the Democratic Republic of Congo and winner of the CAF Cup with Tout-Puissant Mazembe in 2016, Velud has built up a fine track record in Africa.

Machine gun attack in 2010

But the CAN only left him with bad memories until now. The worst remains linked to that organized in Angola, where the Togo team bus, en route to the competition, was attacked with machine guns in the enclave of Cabinda on January 8, 2010.

His assistant coach Amalete Abalo and press officer Stan Ocloo died in the attack, and goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilalé lost the use of his legs . Togo forfeited without playing a match. "It's a terrible trauma, it took a few months to recover. And I still think about it anyway,” says the native of Villefranche-sur-Saône (central France).

"With Burkina, I returned to Togo to play an international match, in Lomé, in March (1-1). Many memories came to the surface. I was able to see the family of the two missing people, the guard too,” continues Velud, moved.

This painful experience could have completely disgusted me, but not at all. I was often asked the question, and immediately after the attack I didn't have the impression of not wanting to come back, he remembers . "Life takes over, and then I wanted to leave again".

The trauma is more psychological, we feel a little guilty about being among the survivors

"The trauma is more psychological, we feel a little guilty about being among the survivors", adds the one who trains the "Stallions" since April 2022. His second missed meeting with the CAN is the result of much less dramatic circumstances: Velud was dismissed by Sudan, which he had qualified, three weeks before the start of CAN-2022. – "I have no bitterness"

The reason? "A political problem at the federal level", he explains: "A change of president a month before, the new leaders arrived with their coach, Burhan Tiya, and the Nile Crocodiles, without Velud, returned empty-handed from Cameroon, after a draw and two defeats.

"I have no bitterness", he assures, "the breach of contract was resolved very well, even better than expected, the new leaders were correct.

He bounces back with Burkina Faso

He quickly bounced back with Burkina Faso, his third African selection. "I have always been attracted to this continent, not just by football, but also the culture, the way of life of the people, their sensitivity. There were opportunities that I jumped at, but when I started my coaching career in France I always had the idea of ;#39;go train in Africa, he rewinds.

He starts the CAN against the "Mourabitounes". "I know Mauritania very well, it's an eye-catching team, which has worked well for a long time, and they have found new players". Velud has finally found the competition of his dreams.