Burkina Faso football: “I wrote the most beautiful page in the history of the national team.” – Issouf Ouattara
Issouf Ouattara: Issouf Ouattara is doing very well. We’ve hung up our football boots, but we’re staying as active as possible. Everything is going well now. No problem.
When did you retire?
If I remember correctly, I definitively finished my career about a year and a half ago. The last club I played for was Salitas FC in Burkina Faso. After six months there, I decided to retire and pursue a different career.
What activities are you currently engaged in?
Personally, I am in the import/export business. I have my own business and everything is going well. For now, we are going to focus on that. I also hold a CAF coaching license from the Burkina Faso Football Federation. This means I haven’t completely given up on football. Although there are smaller activities, it still maintains a close relationship with football.
What club did you play for?
First of all, I would like to emphasize that I was trained by Dauda Sanu at Maturku Training Center. He is someone who should be respected and praised for everything he has done for us and Burkina Faso football. After training in Maturku, he played for AS SONABEL in 2006. He then spent a season at Ouagadougou’s Étoile Philante (EFO). After leaving Burkina Faso, he moved to Portugal where he played for Unio Desportiva de Leiria and DC Tropence from 2008 to 2011. After Portugal, he went to Nimes Olympique in France from 2011 to 2012, and also played in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Libya. Everything was going well for all the clubs mentioned. Finally, I tried my talents in Egypt, but it didn’t go well there. After Egypt, we finished the race in Saudi Arabia.
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Which club earned you the highest salary?
(Laughs) I can say that the salary I received in Portugal was the highest. Yes, I got a good salary in Portugal. In Egypt, I had a good salary on paper, but there were months of unpaid salaries. We’re talking about almost 600,000 dollars, roughly equivalent to 300 million CFA francs. When I tried to claim this amount my passport was blocked. The matter has been taken to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but has yet to be resolved.
Where does the nickname Carlos, taken from Brazilian player Roberto Carlos, come from?
When I was a kid, I had a long, powerful shot on my local team. I had a Yoruba friend in my neighborhood, whose nickname was Abedi Pele. He nicknamed me Carlos. I was between 11 and 12 years old at the time and this nickname stayed with me throughout my professional career.
What have you learned from your travels and career?
I can confidently say that we have had a good career and rich experience. Personally, I think I’ve had a great career. It’s not easy to go to Europe and play for many clubs. He has played in French Ligue 1 and 2, Portugal, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. Not many people get this opportunity. There were about 60 people at the Maturku training centre, and not everyone had the opportunity to play in the European leagues. I’m proud of that. Together with the national team, I contributed to writing the most beautiful page in Burkina Faso’s history at the 2013 African Cup of Nations held in South Africa. I will never forget those moments.
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Do you ever remember being sick in your career?
Of course. My time in Egypt was a very painful memory for me. The terms of the contract that brought me here have not been honored. Everything that was agreed upon was not followed. The club blocked my passport. This episode still weighs heavily on me. I can’t handle this, but that’s life. Not everything can be rosy. We have difficult moments to go through. The most important thing is to be strong and maintain your dignity.
How would you rate the current level of Etalons?
In my opinion, the standard is good. Talented young players are coming together. It’s a good team, we just need unity. However, it appears that there is currently no leader to lead the group. For example, in our time we had leaders like Charles Kabore. But among the young players, there is no leader in sight to motivate others and guide them to reach greater heights. But I think they need time. I believe that with dedication and hard work, they will be able to achieve great results.
How far do you think you can go in the upcoming AFCON in Morocco?
(Laughs) It all depends on them. I wish them the best. I would like to say that they must unite.
Do you have any last words or a call to action?
I would like to urge all Burkina Faso people to support their national team. They have a lot of talent, but young players need support and guidance. Football can help us forget for a moment what we’re going through. After each game at the 2013 AFCON, the entire neighborhood, both neighbors and not, would gather at our house to celebrate. Only football allows you to do that.
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