Chelsea former star FlorentMalouda is set to star for his land of birth when French Guiana faces Jamaica on Thursday June 22nd.
The venue is Stade Pierre Aliker in Fort-de-France where both sides would meet or the Scotia Bank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup last four.
The 37-year old is an established star after years at Stamford Bridge playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. He played for the French national team twice. He featured in Germany 2006 where Les Bleus reached the finals – before the Zinedine Zidane moment and Italy’s subsequent triumph. Malouda also featured in South Africa 2010 where the world gathered for the first time in African soil.
Malouda also worked for perennial French champs Lyon where he won multiple titles playing top level football. The player even won the prestigious Champions League with Chelsea. He believes returning to play in the Caribbean is his response to a higher calling.
“I was born and raised in Cayenne, French Guiana, and I left when I was 15 to go to a football academy in France and everybody knows me because I played with the French national team,” the player said ahead of the semifinal clash.
He adds that he is bringing the same level of passion that helped him excel in Europe and for the national team to French Guiana. He says he never lost touch with grass foot football and that he tries to help the next generation of stars.
The French soccer icon said he could not do much recently as he was away in India playing but that he is excited to be back. French Guiana are hoping to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup next month and Malouda, who still plays for Delhi Dynamos in India, would be joining the team.
He says as he helped pioneered football in India, he would replicate even more for his land of birth. He adds his experience has been very helpful to the team.