It is the story of a true and sincere friendship.
Lucas Deaux, the midfielder of Nîmes opposed this Sunday, February 21 in Bordeaux in L1, and Maxime Ongmakon, captain of the Val-d'Oisien club of Saint-Brice (R1) who will play (2 p.m.) a historic 32nd final de Coupe de France against Gazélec Ajaccio, met at the Reims training center when they were 14 years old.
“Since then, we have remained very close,” explains Deaux.
Max has always been there for me, he has meant a lot in my career.
She is a loyal and sincere person with whom one can engage.
"We call each other almost every day," Ongmakon adds.
I have known a lot of worries in my personal life and in my career but he never let go of me during these difficult times.
He's like a brother, he proved to me that I can count on him at all times.
Even though their paths have separated since their formation, their bonds have never been severed.
Both became fathers of a family, the two 32-year-old men "nevertheless celebrate less together than when I played in Reims and he came to join me after the matches", Lucas remembers with a laugh. Deaux.
"Lucas, I am proud of what he gives off as a personality"
He asserted himself as a sure bet in the L1 (201 games with Reims, Nantes, Guingamp, Nîmes) while Ongmakon took more tortuous paths marked by unfinished experiences (Red Star, CA Bastia), a start in Thailand at 22 years and several seasons without playing.
But the outspoken pro and the upset amateur, flayed alive with a painful family past, share many common visions.
In the previous round, Lucas Deaux had sent a video of support to his friend Maxime Ongmakon./AFP/Jean-Philippe Ksiazek
“We always tend to put the players in boxes, but he, like me, has never entered into this somewhat standardized system,” explains Lucas Deaux.
Kids like Max, who grew up in the suburbs, who missed a lot of things, there are plenty… But in the clubs, there is so much mixing that they don't have time to linger on a player.
Max has a lot of qualities, he's a speed monster, he has the physique, a big hit.
But he missed meeting a somewhat paternalistic coach who knows how to listen to his personal story and tame his impulsiveness.
He is a lion who has always had to struggle to channel his energy.
But he's a smart person.
He is more composed and has stabilized since he became a dad.
"
"Lucas, I am proud of what he accomplishes and of what he gives off as a personality," supports Maxime Ongmakon.
It has never changed, it has always remained the same, simple, open.
When he comes to see me in my neighborhood in Montreuil, he doesn't behave like an inaccessible pro.
He talks to everyone, he plays soccer with us.
Lucas Deaux, who had sent a support video before the Saint-Brice match against Drancy (2-0) in the previous round, closely follows the epic of the little poucet Val-d'Oisien.
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“We debrief after the matches, but I have a more human approach than football, explains the midfielder from Nîmes.
Max takes his role as captain to heart, he unites with young people.
Even if he plays as an amateur, that it is above all a pleasure, he always kept this flame in him.
“Author of 4 goals in three Coupe de France matches, Ongmakon wants to prolong the fun.
"When I look at my career, of course I have regrets, but this may be my last season, so I hope it will continue."
