As part of the development of the club at local and international level, Etoile FC today announced that French football star Sidney Govou has agreed to join the club as Etoile FC’s first ambassador. Govou will be heading the Etoile FC’s ambassador’s team which will see a number of other star players following in his footsteps by joining the EFC’s ambassador’s team.
Govou has played a huge role in the success of Olympique Lyonnais that won the French League title 7 times in a row from 2002 to 2008. His loyalty towards the club earned him the honour to receive the captain’s armband whilst playing close to 300 games and scoring 49 goals. Govou also earned 49 international caps for the France National Team and scored 10 goals during that time. He was part of the star-studded 2006 FIFA World Cup squad narrowly losing to Italy in Germany.
He is one of the very rare footballers who has only had 2 clubs in their career; after having spent 14 years with Olympique Lyonnais, he recently signed a 3-year contract with Panathinaikos FC in Greece in July 2010.
“When the club arrived in Singapore one year ago, we were in talks with David Ginola to take this role of the club’s ambassador, but unfortunately the deal could not go through,” says Johan Gouttefangeas, Chairman of Etoile FC.
“Since then, I have been searching for a star player to fill this role. I did not want to find someone who will just associate his name to the club without any active involvement. Sidney will be coming to Singapore at the end of May, and in the meantime, will open his network to attract world class football players and give the club worldwide exposure. His experience at the highest level in football will be used to our advantage.”
“It is a big, wonderful and ambitious project” says Govou. “My network in Europe will be very useful to link Etoile FC with some of the biggest clubs there; I will do everything that I can to help Etoile FC develop Singaporean local talents whom we will be able to send to gain experience in Europe.”
Sidney and his brother Jules Govou opened a summer training camp called “Stages Govou Sports” ( www.govou.fr ) back in 2006.
“A bridge is now open between football in Singapore and France,” concluded Govou.
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