(Atlanta) From Quebec semi-pro to roommates with Canada. Moïse Bombito’s journey may have been very different – and a little longer – than that of Ismaël Koné, the destiny of the two former CS Saint-Laurent players brought them back together.
“It’s a great story, that’s for sure,” the 24-year-old Quebec defender told La Presse. We meet him in the Canadian team hotel in Atlanta, two days before their clash against Argentina to open the Copa América on Thursday evening.
“He, like me, has dreams in our careers that we are realizing at the moment. These are things we want to do: play in big stadiums, with big crowds, against big teams. »
This is what will happen on Thursday. This meeting against the stars of Argentina will take place in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a magnificent venue that can accommodate 71,000 supporters.
“We’re super excited,” Bombito adds. We only have one thing in mind, and that is to have a good result against Argentina. »
Bombito’s rise with Canada is very recent. He had his first recall last summer, of course. But it was under Jesse Marsch, in June, that he took his place as a starter in central defense. Until offering himself a duel against Kylian Mbappé in the match against France on June 9. We will come back to this.
Because even if Koné and Bombito knew each other from Saint-Laurent, everyone we spoke to agrees that the player playing today with the Colorado Rapids, in MLS, was not expected to become one of the rising stars of Canadian soccer.
He wasn’t even a star in the Quebec semi-pro.
“When he was with us, he was always a good player, but he was not a star,” Rocco Placentino, technical director at CSSL, told us on the phone on Monday.
Placentino calls him a “late bloomer,” a player who developed late. The main person concerned does not hide it at all. On the contrary.
“You can even ask Ishmael,” he said, smiling. When we were younger and we played at Saint-Laurent, I wasn’t the one we came to watch! »
He was rejected by the Impact Academy, then by teams in the Canadian Premier League. After two good seasons with CS Saint-Hubert, still in the Quebec circuit, he decided in 2022 to “not sit on [his] laurels” and try his luck in the American collegiate network. There he is in Iowa, then in New Hampshire. He obtained great visibility there which will lead to him being selected third in the MLS draft by the Rapids in 2023.
A winding path, as they said. Not much more complicated than that of Ismaël Koné, hired professionally by the CF Montreal of the CSSL, before leaving a year later for Europe.
“It’s beautiful to see,” says Mathieu Choinière, whom we meet a few minutes after our discussion with Bombito. Everyone has their own journey. You can succeed at any age. He’s not old either, at 24. It’s inspiring, and it has great potential. »
Choinière praises the defender’s “athleticism.” It’s also the facet of his game that makes him most proud. And probably what earned him these great minutes under Marsch, with his style of play focused on pressure and speed in transition.
For the curious, have fun watching some of his highlights with the Rapids: lively as a hare in defensive withdrawal, Bombito gets a lot of pleasure from coming to take the ball from an attacker who thinks he is free on the counter. attack.
“I really like defending from the back,” he says. When I have to make a defensive withdrawal, I really like to take advantage of what I have athletically. »
These qualities complement those of his new partner on the Canadian ramparts, Derek Cornelius. “More aggressive” than Bombito, compares the latter, Cornelius likes to project himself forward “when he has the opportunity”.
“I have a very good relationship with Derek,” explains the Quebecer. After each training session, Isma, Jo David, Derek and I play a game of touches. This is where we are at ease, comfortable, we laugh a little. This is where we create chemistry as central defenders. »
They needed it against France, who they held to a 0-0 draw less than two weeks ago – with the help of a brilliant Maxime Crépeau in net.
For Bombito, we will especially remember this duel at the very end of the match against Mbappé. Well, he lost this confrontation. But Crépeau saved the furniture – and the match – right behind.
This performance in France even “positively surprised” Placentino. “He played like he’d been playing in the top division for five years! He was not afraid, he had a great physical presence. »
After Bordeaux, the Quebecer returned to Montreal for three days before flying to Atlanta. His battle against Mbappé is all he was talked about during his time at home.
“It was a big, big, big debate when I got home! he says, laughing. They all asked me what it was like, one on one against Mbappé. I say: ‟Guys, this is very, very, very strong!” It’s not the same as defending against someone else in MLS. »
Bombito played the full 90 minutes against France and the Netherlands (4-0 loss). Two preparation matches, which had the desired effect on the players’ learning.
“Every detail counts [at this level], remarks the player. […] We will have to defend in a certain way, be patient, not be naive on certain defensive opportunities. »
He is of course talking here about his clash against Messi and Argentina on Thursday. And even if the best player of all time has already played and scored against the Rapids last April, his excitement before facing him remains the same.
“It’s still incredible,” assures FC Barcelona fan Bombito. He is a player who left his mark on football. It even made me emotional at times. […] It made me dream. He’s a player that I respect enormously, and I can’t wait to face him again. »
Rocco Placentino is happy for his former foal. And recalls, in one sentence, the path he has traveled.
“In the past, the only way he could play against Messi was on PlayStation! »
