Coupe de France: in a first life, this Beauvaisien challenged AC Milan

This match in Steenvoorde in Flanders, on the Belgian border will surely disorient him.

This Sunday (1:30 p.m.), during the 8th round of the Coupe de France *, on the synthetic field of this small team from the North, resident of the Regional 1, Osli Teqja, the defender of Beauvais (National 2), landed in the Oise at the start of the season, will be light years away from what he experienced more than three years ago.

Indeed, the central defender of ASBO experienced the fury of the San Siro stadium in Milan during a Europa League match with his club from North Macedonia, Shkendija Tetovo.

In the middle of August 2017, he had the immense joy of facing his favorite club.

“Yes, I am an AC Milan supporter,” he explains in English.

For me, it will remain the best memory of my career.

"

Dryly beaten 6-0 in Italy in the first leg then 0-1 in the return to Macedonia, Osli Teqja has memories in his head.

“For us, it was an achievement to lose only one goal against this legendary club, assures Teqja.

Well, it's true, on the way out, we exploded a bit but the essential is elsewhere.

"On the way out, the 32-year-old defender has an anecdote:" Chance wanted me to be drawn for a doping control, explains Teqja.

I spent an hour talking with Giacomo Bonaventura.

It remains a magical moment for me.

"

Elected best defender of the 2019-2020 season of the Albanian championship with his club Kukësi, Osli Teqja has decided to try his luck abroad.

Despite ten matches in the Europa League, his choice fell on Picardy.

“This choice was a huge surprise in my country,” he explains.

No one understood why I left the Albanian First Division for the French 4th Division.

This choice is nevertheless explained very well for this robust rear (1m86).

The health crisis has turned his plans upside down

“My partner is a volleyball player in Albania at Partizani Tirana,” he says.

She is also a flight attendant.

She had just found a job at Beauvais airport.

That is why I inquired and saw that Beauvais had a good level and good facilities.

I gave my verbal consent to the club leaders.

Only the story does not end there.

Due to the health crisis, Osli Teqja's wife is ultimately not hired and therefore returns to Albania.

But alone.

“I gave my word to the club, I signed up for two years.

I intend to go to the end of the adventure and maybe more.

»In Beauvais, Osli Teqja is three hours by plane from his native country and tries to return there every month.

“With the health crisis, it's more complicated,” he admits.

My wife can hardly come to France.

But I hang on.

"

Milan (Italy), August 17, 2017. With his number 21, Olsi Teqja played with North Macedonian club Shkendija Tetovo against AC Milan in the Europa League / DR  

Determined to succeed in France, the Albanian player began to learn French.

Twice a week, Corinne Corillion, the club's general secretary, gives her lessons.

“It's important for me to learn the language,” says Osli.

In training, I get a lot of help from my teammates, especially Romain Elie, Florian Pinteaux and Eduardo Rodrigo, who also speak English.

"

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Even though the championship came to a halt after just eight games for Beauvais, the Albanian defender has already become a pillar of the team.

He is one of the few players to have played all of his team's matches.

“We were looking for an experienced player with this technical profile,” says Sébastien Dailly, his coach at ASBO.

He's a rough defender but very good in the recovery.

But above all, he is someone who has important human values.

We feel that he wants to succeed here.

"

When we ask him the level of the Albanian championship where he finished 2nd last season with his former club Kukësi, it is clear.

“It's a very good championship, even if it is a little unknown in France, he explains.

For me, it is well worth the level of the French Ligue 2.

At 32, Teqja has never been international in his country.

“All the defenders selected play in Serie A in Italy.

That's why I wanted to try my luck in France.

It was the only way to continue to progress… ”

* In case of qualification, the ASBO will travel to the 32nd finals on the field of the winner of the match Aire-sur-la-Lys (R2) - Amiens AC (N3) on the weekend of February 20 and 21