His qualities are numerous and range from generosity to tenacity. He admits to always wanting to be right but always resigns for the sake of work.
Wisdom grappling with youth, a budding champion in many areas, a local pride for those who have encouraged him and dream of seeing him reach the end of his victorious path. Nice Première wanted to show that true beautiful souls still sprout in Nice.
Jonathan kicks off Elise’s ZOOM favorites. After him, a young karateka, but for now, let’s give way to Jon.
NP: This year, you didn’t start school as usual. What has changed?
Jon: I’ve moved cities, I’ve entered the Bastia high school, which is a general education institution.
NP: And why Bastia?
Jon: I joined a football training institute.
NP: Why not in Nice?
Jon: At the end of the season, Bastia called to see if there were young players who could meet their criteria. The president talked about me and they agreed to give me a trial. I went and it went well. I signed a one-year agreement. I will have a first assessment around Christmas.
In another center, after reviewing my championship results, they offered me an 8-week trial. They already had three goalkeepers under contract. I wouldn’t have played even though the coach thought I had a little something extra compared to others.
NP: How did your family react?
Jon: It was difficult, it was hard, but they always wanted the best for me.
NP: Your friends?
Jon: They were happy for me.
NP: Is a training center the red carpet to play professionally, or is it already somewhat like that?
Jon: No, no, no, not at all, we are far from that (laughs..)
NP: How long have you been playing football?
Jon: I started at 6 years old, so it’s been 10 years.
NP: Have you always known you had talents, or is your journey more the result of hard work?
Jon: It’s a lot of training, hard work. I never stopped working, and I was never satisfied.
NP: What is your number one quality as a young man?
Jon: Apart from my family, I would say it’s my solidarity. The people I love can count on me, and wherever they need help, I will be there.
NP: As an athlete…?
Jon: Relentless, I never stop.
NP: What is your worst flaw?
Jon: I always want to be right.
NP: Have you always played only football, or have you tried other sports?
Jon: I did judo until I was 14 and played tennis just for fun.
NP: What were your results?
Jon: Ah, I was doing great everywhere, but I couldn’t manage it all. I had to choose, and it was football.
NP: What are the significant sporting events you’ve experienced?
Jon: I don’t have anything specific, just images of tournaments won, strong moments, or like when we see pros winning on TV, we tell ourselves it’s not like that among young people, but sometimes it kicks off, we’re happy and we soar, it’s beautiful.
NP: What are your interests?
Jon: Family is sacred.
NP: What is your favorite team?
Jon: I support Nice as someone from Nice.
NP: Your player?
Jon: In my former club in Nice, I had a coach who was a former pro who told me about the first goalkeeper dressed all in black who started playing outside his penalty area like a sweeper. I can’t remember the name… and when I heard that as a child, it inspired me, I thought I didn’t have to be like the others, that I could bring my originality.
NP: Your goalkeeper
Jon: Even though he’s gone, Fabien BARTHEZ, even if for me the best goalkeeper in the world right now is BUFFON. I have already trained with Barthez and I could see that he was a great man.
NP: Which club would you dream of starting with?
Jon: To play for a professional club? Ah, it would be in NICE, I would be so happy to play here.
NP: How is your season going? Are there any international championships?
Jon: Uh no, there can be tournaments where different countries compete, but there is a national championship bringing together 12 teams, Montpellier, Castelnau, Grenoble, Saint Etienne, L’OM, Monaco, Cannes, Ajaccio, Bastia… The results are published in the newspapers, for me it’s national under-16 and currently, we are 4th, it’s going well..
NP: Which match has impacted you the most?
Jon: The League Cup final last year NICE NANCY, even though we lost, the atmosphere was crazy.
NP: What do you think about what happened in the Nice Marseille stands?
Jon: I don’t know if it was intentional. There have always been tensions between the people of Marseille and Nice; it’s about intimidation. There are those with smoke bombs, those who shout, I think it’s a shame because the end was really tragic.
NP: How do you deal with that, being a goalkeeper stuck in the goal?
Jon: When I was younger, it would have annoyed me, but now, I tell myself that if there are people behind me against me who are getting angry, it’s that somewhere I’m doing my job well, that I’m playing my part well.
NP: What other career would you dream of pursuing?
Jon: I’ve always liked the job of a spy, GIGN, stuff like that; but I prefer sports and studies.
NP: By the way, how are your results?
Jon: It’s going well, I’ve always had excellent results, but I also work a lot.
NP: What advice would you give to young people who dream of experiencing what you are?
Jon: The first thing is work, regardless of what people say, if you feel like it won’t happen, but if you don’t give up it will come.
NP: What is your favorite book?
Jon: I haven’t yet had THAT one encounter, but I’ve always read what there was to read for school.
NP: Your film?
Jon: I don’t have one, there are good ones but not one that stands above the rest.
NP: An artist, male or female?
Jon: My favorite singer is Soprano, who is a psychiatrist.
NP: Is there anything else you want to say?
Jon: I hope to reach the top, sign as a pro one day, that this desire will never leave me. That I will always have my pillars around me, my mother…
NP: Your family played an important role.
Jon: Oh yes, family has been crucial, it’s my whole life, if I hadn’t had them by my side, I would never have reached this level. I love them, I’m very close to my mother…
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