Louis-José Houde played only one soccer match in his life. He was 7 years old. The next day, he injured himself with a collarbone, all alone, like a big one. He has never replayed again. “I said to myself,” Why not leave at the top? ” »»
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The press crossed the Quebec humorist in a tender moment with his little boy, Saturday noon, a few hours before the crowd leading to the kickoff of the inaugural match at home of the Montreal roses. The child played on the lawn of adjacent land at the Boréale stadium, in Laval. Louis-José Houde kindly agreed to grant us a short interview, he who is today one of the teams-ambassadors of the team.
“I found it funny that 40 years later, I am offered to get involved a bit with a soccer club,” he says. A sport that has always remained like an unfinished dream kind of dream, which has finished abruptly. Four decades later, I finally have the opportunity to take it back. »»
The Houde athlete wore number 8 at the time. He also met the number 8 of the roses, the Quebecer Mara Bouchard, who remained on the bench for the match on Saturday. “I hope to be her lucky holder and she does not break the collarbone by the end of the season. This is my goal. »»
Louis-José Houde says he has always “taken” team sports “.
I grew up with sisters who played soccer when I was little. I found the idea of a super stimulating professional club. It is a sport that I gain to discover, because it is not my first sport.
Louis-José Houde
After his hasty retirement from the soccer, he got into baseball.
The club’s “community vocation”, whose owners say they want to contribute to the “movement” of female sport, also explains the interest of the actor to take part.
“In investors, there are sportsmen, business people, there are some artists. I find it a very positive atmosphere. It is very positive, too, for female sport. »»
“White canvas”
Of these investors, we met several on Saturday. Among other things, there was actress Julie of the page-her daughter, the artist Billie on the page, participated in a short concert of half-time. The host Patrice Bélanger was also there. Like the old Alouettes Étienne Boulay, to whom we spoke in pre-match. He was accompanied by seven young girls, children and their friends, soccer players.
“I really thought it was fun to show them that if you are picking up at soccer, there are now outlets that are interesting. You can play pro in front of crowds. There is something inspiring and motivating for them in this. »»
He says he wanted to invest in this “project”, because he “believes” in his “mission”.
I am a dad of two young girls. I want them to understand that we are investing in it because there is something to do for girls in sport.
Étienne Boulay
In a video shared on social networks in the last days by roses, we see the former footballer making a fiery speech in front of the players during the training camp. He quotes scenes from Goodfellasthat we will not transcribe in this family daily life.
“They gave me the privilege of coming to chat with the girls. I found it important that they understand the opportunity they have, and to seize it. It is also important to create an identity. Everything is to be done, everything is to be built. You have a white canvas, and you can write the story you want. Clearly, they left! »»
An “honor” for Josée Bélanger
Our wanderings in the boreal stadium are rich in beautiful meetings. After Boulay, we come across Josée Bélanger, former attacker of the Canadian national team. She is here with ten other former players and teammates.
“I was driving towards here, and it looked like I dreamed that it was I who came to play!” she launches. It looks like I’m still in the atmosphere of sport. These are great experiences. It leaves great memories. »»
Her memories, however, do not include a professional home match, if we exclude Canada’s matches. Again, the symbol of seeing her here, in this first pro match on Quebec soil, was strong.
“When I was little, in reality, we didn’t really have a model. When I was in high school, I came across the name Mia Hamm [une Américaine]. This is what allowed me to believe that a female player could play on a professional level. To think that it could be done in Canada, it came a little later. »»
For Josée Bélanger, “it’s really an honor to be here”, to see “the next generation” at work.
Three victories in three games. A team full of talents, including several from here. And above all, an enthusiastic audience. We come to wonder why it took so much time before it unlocks.
“It’s just going to open doors to so many people,” says Josée Bélanger.
