Interview by Song Sung Hai
Photography by Gale Gan

In a bid to look for a creative midfielder to partner Kamel Ramdani and provide more attacking options for the Jaguars, Head Coach Patrick Vallée have brought in another former player. His name is Sébastien Etiemble and he comes with a mission. He started football at the age of six with Stade Lavallois Mayenne FC, or otherwise simply known as Stade Laval currently in Ligue 2 of France, and has never looked back.

He was under Patrick at AFC Compiegne in the 2011/2012 season of the Championnat De France (which functions as the 4th Division in France) and played alongside a familiar name; Aurélien Hérisson.

That year was when Patrick, Sébastien and Aurélien had the year of their lives. AFC Compiegne had confounded their critics in the Coupe De France and the team reached Round 10 of the biggest Cup competition in France and up against Ligue 1 giant Lille OSC.

Lille OSC then, was coached by the current Roma manager, Rudi Garcia, and had the likes of Eden Hazard(Belgian International currently playing with Chelsea FC), Joe Cole(English International) and Mathieu Debuchy(French International with Newcastle United) in the squad, all of whom also played and struggled against Patrick Vallée’s AFC Compiegne.

The game had ended in a goalless draw after regulation time but AFC Compiegne fell short of collecting their biggest scalp when Lille’s Belgian youth International striker, Gianni Bruno scored the only and winning goal in the 114th minute to send Lille OSC through. Both Aurélien Hérisson and Sébastien Etiemble played throughout the whole game.

Sébastien Etiemble moved to Union Sportive Quevillaise( a team which made the final of the Coupe de France in 2012) in the Championnat National, which is the third tier of France below Ligue 2, for the 2012/2013 season while Patrick and Aurélien moved to Singapore.

Having had a reasonably good season with US Quevilly, Sébastien received a summon from his ex-coach and he explains to tpufc.org why he answered that call.

tpufc.org: Sébastien, you were moving up in France so why did you come to Singapore?
SE: Well it is partly due to Head Coach Patrick Vallée. I played under him and I must say I love his style of football and his football spirit. I’m a fan of Barcelona so I like on the ground and technical football. Patrick plays his football like that.

tpufc.org: That alone is enough to bring you here?
SE: The other reason is also because I want to discover and to know more about the S.League. I know Patrick (Vallée) and Aurélien (Hérisson) from my time with AFC Compiegne, you see, and when I asked Aurélien about the S.League and he told me it is good, I decided it will be a good opportunity for me. So far, it has been a good experience.

tpufc.org: How is Patrick like as a coach in France?
SE: Definitely the same. He is a very technical coach, which I like, and with Tanjong Pagar he is no different. He conducts the same training as he does in France and approaches games with the same mentality.

tpufc.org: Now that you are here, how do you find the S.League as compared to French football?
SE: I must say the S.League is a good championship. It is very difficult and all the teams play good football. There a lot of good teams in the S.League this year and I see teams like Home United FC, Tampines Rovers FC and DPMM FC being favourites. It is a very interesting championship. Football in France is a bit different in the sense that the weather is different and in France we play a different type of football.

tpufc.org: Interesting. So the weather also matters, you mean?
SE: Yes. When I first came here it was very hard for me. It is so hot here for me that I feel like I have to put in even more effort when I am playing! I must say it is getting better though the more I play and get used to it.

tpufc.org: So, how would you rate our team this year?
SE: We have a good team for sure. We give our best in all the games that we play. We may not have the results but I am sure we will get there in time. We have very good players and we can have a good season.

tpufc.org: Indeed, we agree. That aside, how are you finding Singapore so far?
SE: The weather I have mentioned but I do like Singapore. It is easier for me settling in because I have Aurélien as my tour guide when I first came and he has helped make it easier for me to adapt to life here.

tpufc.org: We are glad to hear that. What are your plans for the future though?
SE: I am not sure. We see what happens. Every year, I give my best. I love football so I am lucky I get to be a footballer because my passion is my work so I hope I get to play football for a long time.

tpufc.org: Yes, we hope so too having seen what you can do on the field. It is delightful for sure. Who among your teammates would you rate?
SE: It is very hard. We have a lot of good players and it is impossible for me to single out any one player.

tpufc.org: Fair enough. Well then, who would you rate as the ‘naughty’ teammate in the dressing room?
SE: Naughty? Haha! No, no they will make me their next victim.

tpufc.org: We guarantee you they won’t. *Cough*
SE: Ah, if you say so. If I must, I will rank them accordingly. Sazali (Salleh), followed by Masrezwan and maybe, Anthony (Aymard) and (Monsef) Zerka.

tpufc.org: Interesting, hehe. OK, one last question. The best looking goalkeeper in the S.League according to you.
SE: Of course it is Aurélien Hérisson! Haha. He is my good friend.