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While diplomacy reigned in the stands, it was hardly a concern for the players on the field. In its big return to competition on Saturday, October 31, the Saint Barthélemy men’s national team didn’t hold back against the Saint Thomas All-Star Team. In an exhibition match played on the brand-new synthetic turf at Saint-Jean Stadium—which marked the venue’s official inauguration—the local players emerged victorious with a score of six to one (6–1). Much to the delight of the event’s main organizer, Timothé Walrave, president of the Territorial Soccer Committee (CTF), and the many spectators who came to cheer on both teams.
The St. Thomas All-Star Team.
A guard of honor and smiles
The match was, of course, a sporting event, but it also took place within the context of the recent sister-island partnership between the two islands. It was topped off with a special ceremonial highlight, as the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, accepted the CTF’s invitation. He took his seat in the stands to watch the game. Although the St. Thomas All-Star Team was no match for the St. Barth selection, the visitors from the U.S. Virgin Islands fought hard to put up a strong fight against their hosts.
Accompanied by music as they took the field alongside young players from the Ajoe soccer program, the players came out of the gate firing on all cylinders. The first 25 minutes of the match were fast-paced and, at times, a bit rough. Saint Barth, however, quickly asserted its technical mastery and physical dominance. The Saint Thomas defense conceded three goals before halftime. After returning from the locker room, the Saint Thomas team struggled more and more physically. With a reduced roster of thirteen players—including one who was injured in the first half—the All-Star Team could no longer keep up. On the other side, Saint-Barth’s coach, Maxime Chevreul, had 23 players at his disposal, whom he rotated wisely. The visitors conceded three more goals but managed to score one late in the game, thanks to a penalty kick. Their pride was saved.
The match ended with hugs on the field. The Saint-Barthélemy players formed a guard of honor to salute their opponents, who, exhausted, returned to the locker room with smiles on their faces. Timothé Walrave had every reason to be satisfied. The team’s return was marked by a victory, and the crowd turned out in force. All in all, it was a wonderful celebration of soccer, hinting at more events of this kind in the coming months.
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Philippe Diallo, President of the French Football Federation: “A Great Momentum”
Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation (FFF), made a brief visit to Saint-Barthélemy at the invitation of the Territorial Football Committee. Seated in the stands at the Saint-Jean stadium, he watched the match. “This invitation is a wonderful opportunity to come here and highlight the work being done with young people through the island’s clubs,” said the president. “I think the Saint-Barthélemy team is of very high quality. The players are well-positioned, tactically sound, and effective.”
Philippe Diallo also explained that his visit stemmed from the FFF’s desire to unite France’s 12,000 clubs under a single banner. “I want them all to feel like an integral part of the Federation,” he assures. “Coming here shows that we appreciate the work being done and that Saint-Barthélemy is part of the national Federation.” ” Regarding the Committee, Philippe Diallo notes that it is fostering “a rather positive dynamic,” and adds: “I met with them a while back, and they shared some challenges with me, particularly regarding licenses. That’s why we created the Committee—so the Federation can provide assistance, whether through equipment donations or operational support—to ensure soccer thrives. It’s important for volunteers and for young people. Playing sports is essential for healthy development.”
Finally, the FFF president couldn’t leave the island without saying a few words about the French national team and its new head coach, Zinedine Zidane: “A new era has begun, off to a pretty good start with three wins, one draw, and a lot of excitement surrounding this icon of French soccer. We’ll continue in two weeks against Italy and Turkey. I hope we’ll finish first in our group (Nations League). Our goal is to bring home titles for France and share positive emotions with the French people.”
Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, poses alongside Ajoe president Cécile Coudreau.
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Reactions
Mathys Dussaule, captain of the Saint-Barth national team: “A great feeling”
“It was a very good game. We got right into it from the start. Everyone felt great. I’m very happy with the intensity. As soon as we scored the first goal, around the 30th minute, we took control. The start of the game was physical, but that’s what we look for. In the second half, we could tell they were tired. The fact that they had so few substitutes made it tough for them. We started our preparation two months ago; we know this field, which can be difficult since it still needs to settle. It’s very physical. We’re really, really happy with the project, and we thank everyone involved. Now, we hope there will be more games.”
Maxime Chevreul, coach of the Saint-Barth team: “We smothered them”
“We’d done some research on the opposing team, which we didn’t know at all. They only showed up with thirteen players, and they made the small mistake of going to practice this morning (Saturday) at 9 a.m. I think they got a bit overheated. They also had the misfortune of having an injured player. Beyond that, I’m very happy with our team. They moved the ball around well; we smothered them. The Saint Thomas players weren’t able to maintain the intensity of the first fifteen minutes throughout the entire game. All the better for us. We also have the advantage of having strong defenders and good defensive midfielders, and when everyone works together, it clicks. We’ll work with the Committee to put some great things in place, like organizing home and away games.”
Dale Richards, coach of the Saint Thomas All-Star Team: “A great experience!”
“The Saint-Barth team was well organized. Not to make excuses, but we didn’t have enough time to prepare. The players weren’t necessarily in top shape because the season hasn’t started yet. Plus, some of our players weren’t able to make the trip. But it was a very interesting game. We really appreciate being here—it’s a great experience. We’re already looking forward to coming back! We’d also like to have a return match in Saint Thomas.”
