Inside Martinica's football

Martinica National Team have showed good performerces in recent years. In the last two Caribbean Cups they reached the 4th place in Antigua and the 6th place in Jamaica and they reached also the Gold Cup. Les Matinos are not a FIFA's affiliate so they cannot play the Qualifiers to World Cups Senior nor Youth and they aren't allowed to play the Olympic Games Qualifiers as well.

The high level of football in the island is the Division d'Honneur. The teams included on that are Club Colonial, Club Franciscain, Golden Lion, Golden Star, Samaritaine, Aiglon du Lamentin, Excelsior, CS Case-Pilote, Emulation, US Marinoise, RC Riviere-Pilote, New Star, Essor Prechotain and Good Luck. The Champion of the season 2015-2016 is Golden Lion with and the runner-up is Club Franciscain. Both teams with national faces. For Golden Lion are Jose Goron, Sébastien Crétinoir, Andy Bodezon, Daniel Herelle, Jérémie Lienafa, Sébastien Lepel and Jean-Paul Nedra. For Club Franciscain are Nicolas Zaire, Kendrick Agot, Malick Leopoldie, Stéphane Abaul, Djenhael Mainge, Johny Marajo and Kévin Tresfield. Recently Franciscain's tar Jordy Delem signed with MLS' side Seattle Sounders FC however for now he will play with the Seattle Sounders FC B that play the USL(Third level in USA).

Martinicaa have producted many talents. In recent years they sent some players to the Metrople France. One of the most famous are Gaël Germany that played most of his International career for Arles-Avignon . Germany arrived in France in 2007 from Samaritaine and there he played for two clubs:Arles-Avignon and Paris FC. In 2013 the right midfield returned to home to play for his former team Samaritaine.

Gaël Germany was invited to Inside Caribbean Football to talk about him and the football in Martinica.

Gaël Germany

Inside Caribbean Football: How do you see the level of the football in Martinique?  

Gaël Germany: I think that the best team of martinique can play in CFA or the 3rd division event If it's would be difficult.

Inside Caribbean Football: Martinique isn't a Fifa's member, how do you think it affect the development of the football in the country?       

                       
Gaël Germany: Martinique situation is very difficult for the development of our football. The French Federation help our country but If we were Fifa's member we can have better help ans our club could play concacaf competitions.

Inside Caribbean Football: Do you think caribbean foreigners in Martinique Division d'Honneur would give local players more knowledge about how the players of other Caribbean countries play and for sure give better results to Martique National Teams?

Gaël Germany:Yes, If you have good players in your competition, all the players have good informations, they "progressent".

Inside Caribbean Football: There are a lot of good players playing in Division d'Honneur. National midfield Jordan Delem joined Seattle Saunders FC B recently, for example. Why do you think that only one player left Martique to play abroad in or out Caribbean? Why do you think the players prefer to stay in Martinique?     

                                                                                      
Gaël Germany: Martinique is a french island. The players prefer to sign in french country or european. The language is a problem too. We speak French and in the caribean they speak English or Spanish. But I think that martinican players will think it's better for them to play in Caribbean or United States because  it's look like martinique.

Inside Caribbean Football: You played in France a lot of seasons. What experiences did you get in Europe that you try to pass to your team mates at Samaritaine and at National Team?

Gaël Germany: Since my come back, I sign in samaritaine because I want to translate what I see in france. It's not easy because the mentality change but I think a lot of players have the level technic and physic but not the mental for play in professionnal. It is on that I want help my matinican friend
                                                                                                                                                           Inside Caribbean Football: What are you expecting from Martinique National Team in Caribbean Cup Qualifiers?

Gaël Germany: I hope we come back in Gold Cup because in 2013, we had the team for going in 1/4 ou 1/2 final. And Gold Cup is a very good competition, good organisation and I hope martinican will come back.

It's possible to realize that would be good and importante to Martica to ge a memeber of Fifa because they would be allowed to compete in more championships and they would get a financial form the association to invest in local football.