EXCLUSIVE Bertrand Traore interview for Mozzart Sport Kenya: I am not the best player in my family
Reading Time: 5min | Thu. 04.03.21. | 09:16
The Burkinabe striker is the fourth footballer in this unique sporting family. He speaks to us about his fruitful career and has a powerful message for the African talents
You have already featured for the outfits such as Chelsea, Ajax, Lyon, Auxerre and Aston Villa before turning 26. However, you still don't consider yourself the best player in the family, let alone in your country or continent. Then you must be one of a kind, indeed.
That unique humbleness comes from the prodigious Burkinabe forward Bertrand Traore, who talks exclusively for Mozzart Sport Kenya about his career, football-oriented family and the Premier League.
The 25-year-old player was born and raised in surroundings where football is considered a part of family tradition. His father Feu Traore Isai played for Burkina Faso at the international level, just like his second-eldest brother Alain, 32, whom Bertrand praises sincerely. His young cousin Lassina Traore, 20, has also earned 11 caps for the national team already. With that in mind, it's no wonder that the gifted boy from Bobo-Dioulasso followed their path and now listens to their wholehearted critics.
"My father played on an international level for Burkina Faso, and my brother and cousin still play for the national team. We talk a lot about football, especially after my games, they criticize me... My brother Alain is better than me, but I hope I will be better eventually," laughs Traore.
Besides his relatives, he sees those African football greats as his role models. Humble as he is, Traore doesn't even consider comparing himself to them yet.
"Didier Drogba, George Weah, Yaya Toure... they have all been fantastic, significant players. They are legends in Africa. My aim is to be like them one day. All of those names have won African Ballon d'Or, so I first need to win that reward to be able to compare myself to these guys. I have my own style, but I need to improve my headers, physical abilities… Because of my appearance on the pitch, some people say that I look slightly like Emmanuel Adebayor. But, as I said, I need to achieve something like those greats did, so I could compare myself to them," smiles Aston Villa's winger, who started his journey in the youth setups of Auxerre and Chelsea, before making a debut for the senior side of the Blues in the 2015/2016 season.
Since then, he has made a serious impact not only in Premier League but in France and the Netherlands, where he was a star of their powerhouses. The experience he gained allows him to draw some parallels.
"They all have different cultures and the style of play. In the Dutch league, for example, it's all about playing football, tactics. In France, on the other hand, you have a different style. The teams are more sit-back on the pitch; there's even more focus on tactics and the physical part of the game as well. And, finally, in the Premier League, you have all that gathered in one place. You ought to work hard, and that's why it is the best league in the world."
Traore last night in action against Sheffield United (©AFP)In that paramount competition, Traore's Aston Villa is doing just fine. Albeit, it could have been even better than that 9th spot in the table.
"We are satisfied, we are at the moment where we want to be, and we can even go higher in the table. Villa started very well this season, the first three or four games. Afterwards, we had some challenging games, we have lost some points, but, at the same time, it tells us we could go for more. I think we can do better; we need to keep believing and working hard and then see what will open for us.
"I came to Villa with big ambitions. The first one was to play every week, to become a starter. Of course, then there was that goal to win games, get some good results. And I hope it will be like this, and that in the end, we will finish as high as possible.
"It would make me happy to see that we finished the season and to say we have done all we could have. I would not like to have any regrets about what could have been done. If we do everything right, at the end of the season, we will all smile."
That smile on Bertrand's face reveals he is enjoying himself already in Birmingham. Grealish, Martinez and the rest of the crew made him feel at home at Villa Park.
"I am playing with some great international players. We have a good team with quality players. With this covid-19 situation and all that, we cannot hang out that much, enjoy ourselves with our friends, everything is closed… But we share lots of times together on a training ground. So yes, it is very nice to be with them, and it feels good to be a part of this squad," he explains.
Asked about the future of African football, since he is one of it's finest gems, Traore thinks that the new day will bring lots of new standout players with African origins.
"Our football is growing, most of the countries are in a transitional period. Most of the teams are changing, the youngsters are taking over, and that's really great. Some countries have many of their players in Europe, giving more quality to the national teams. It's an excellent thing."
And what advice can you give to those talented boys in Africa, playing football on the streets?
"The best thing I can say to young boys in Africa is to keep believing, keep dreaming, work hard and pray. They will have that one chance, and they should take it," concludes Bertrand Traore for Mozzart Sport Kenya.
By: NEVEN CVIJANOVIĆ, Sport Klub TV reporter
