After his first stint from 2002 to 2008, Pascal Théault returned to Asec Abidjan in 2017 to serve as the academy director. Now 67, with nearly forty years spent at Stade Malherbe Caen, he maintains his passion for West Africa, where he reconnects with the values of solidarity that drew him to the become an educator. For this seasoned trainer, these "innate values" are at risk. "I’m not saying it was better before, but I compare… And I can assure you that cell phones are a plague for soccer coaches." He elaborates: "A team sport is based on the concept of solidarity and cohesion: we defend together, we pass the ball together, we press the opponent together… Yet, individualism is on the rise in our societies and is symbolized by cell phones, even in the locker rooms. I feel a real danger: how will the concepts of team play be received and translated in the future?" To counter this trend, the director has limited cell phone usage at the academy to one hour per day, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. "The rest of the time, they talk, play board games, and share experiences together, which strengthens their camaraderie and their collective play."
Cell phones, a plague for coaches
Brief