From Thuram to Henry: “Z’antiye Football Club” celebrates the heroes of Caribbean football

From the beaches of Saint-Pierre, in Martinique, to the Juventus pitch in Sainte-Anne, in Guadeloupe: ‘Z’antiye Football Club’ is a journey through over 60 years of history written by Caribbean football legends. The documentary by Nicola Cuvelier-Mella and Jérémie Cuvillier (released in 2018) tells the contribution of players from the French Antilles to the transalpine national team. From Lilian Thuram (born in Guadeloupe, formerly Parma and Juventus) to Thierry Henry (legend of Arsenal with father of Guadeloupe and mother of Martinique), up to Wendie Renard (the player of Lyon and the French women’s national team is originally from Martinique) .

from the Caribbean to World and European

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But in “Z’antiye” there is also room for lesser known names and curious stories. All within a story that makes sport the frame of the relationship between mainland France and the Antilles. On a journey that leads from the Caribbean to sporting events such as the 1998 World Cup or the 2000 European Championship, both won by multi-ethnic France. “This film seemed obvious to us – explained Nicola Cuvelier-Mella to Karaibes Sports -. It was necessary to tell this exceptional sporting and human adventure to the inhabitants of the West Indies, but also to those of metropolitan France”.

folk heroes

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The reason? “The list of the great Caribbean champions of French football is exceptionally long: Trésor, Janvion, Thuram, Henry, Abidal, Gallas and so on. If we put this epic into perspective, in relation to the history of relations between the Antilles and France, we we realize this is very important. These champions were popular heroes celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. “