N’Guessan Clément, the National Technical Director (DTN) of Ivory Coast, has expressed candid opinions about the challenges facing Ivorian football, particularly at the local level. In an exclusive interview, he attributes the decline in Ivorian football to various factors, including strategic issues, players’ reluctance to commit fully, and the quality of training provided by centers.
Clément criticizes the laxity of the Federation for not giving proper direction to local football and disregarding proposals from the National Technical Directorate. He suggests taking 10% from clubs’ subsidies to encourage investment in training, but his proposal was rejected. Clément emphasizes the need for the Federation to play a more active role in revitalizing local football.
Regarding the failure of the local Elephants at the UEMOA Tournament, Clément points to players’ strategic mindset, fear of injuries before going abroad, and the overall technical quality of players. He highlights the decline in clubs’ commitment to training and the rise of training centers that lack proper infrastructure and qualified trainers.
Clément also discusses the success of the U-17 national team, acknowledging their physical condition, tactical positioning, and iron mentality. However, he raises concerns about maintaining their performance after returning from international competitions and mentions the challenges of working with players who primarily compete in domestic championships.
The interview concludes with Clément addressing the need to rethink Ivorian football, emphasizing the importance of investing in clubs, providing resources, and addressing the challenges associated with training centers and player agents. He calls for shared responsibility among stakeholders to address the issues and expresses optimism about the future of the senior national team, the Elephants A.
