Don’t count on Lyon La Duchère to try to recruit footballers everywhere, from a very young age, throughout the Lyon region. No, this club from the 9th arrondissement of Lyon wants to turn primarily to local players for its football school (from U6 to U11), and even for its pre-training (from U12 to U15).
“We are one of the rare clubs that does not do detection as such in small categories,” explains Abdoulaye Kafando, responsible for these two centers at “La Duch”. We just have open houses. Location is one of the important criteria for joining our football school. We have more than 90% of children from the La Duchère sector. »
They became executives with the regional U15s
So much so that some licensees, such as striker Bilel Issaoune (15 years old) and goalkeeper Angilson Antonio (14 years old) are already in their 9th season at Lyon La Duchère. And their journey is very symbolic, since after several years in reserve teams, they are now executives of team 1 of the U15 category, which plays at the regional level.
Throughout this 2025-2026 season, Lyon La Duchère opens its doors to us, with a video report broadcast every two weeks in 20 Minutes Arenathe television program of the sports department of the editorial staff of 20 Minutes. For the 11th episode, we followed this Duché U15 team during training last week.
The club aims to be “accessible to everyone”
“Basically, I didn’t think I was going to be as high as I am right now,” confides Angilson Antonio. But I took my time. For me, football was not going to be a big part of my life but just a sporting activity. I didn’t want to go too fast so as not to risk getting discouraged in this sport. » A detachment and patience which are bearing fruit today for the young goalkeeper as for his teammate Bilel Issaoune, selected this season in the U15 selection of the Rhône committee.
Our file on Lyon La Duchère
“We are really very proud to have profiles like Angilson and Bilel,” relishes Abdoulaye Kafando, also coach of this Lyon La Duchère U15 team. It promotes all the educators and the club’s project, which is accessible to everyone. There is real Ducherois know-how. » A major challenge for the club located in the heart of a priority district, despite its elite categories, from national U17s to seniors in the Top 5 of National 3.
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