EXCLUSIVE | Charles Kaboré: Today, I Might Not Be Motivated To Be A Coach, But Tomorrow I Might Want To Become A Head Coach

In the world of football, few names resonate as powerfully as Charles Kaboré. Telecom Asia Sport is thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with this legendary midfielder whose career has been nothing short of extraordinary. In this interview, we go through the milestones of Kaboré's career, his experiences in top-flight European football, and how he continues to inspire the next generation of athletes.

- How are you doing?

- I'm doing very well.

- Are you currently in Africa or France?

- No, I live in Nice, France.

- And are the kids learning to play soccer?

- Yes, my son plays soccer sometimes, and my daughter plays tennis.

- Are you working, or are you taking a break at the moment?

- Your last club was the French club, Niort, right?

- Yes, it was Niort, in Ligue 2.

- Why did you come back to France following your period at Dynamo?

- Well, following my time at Dynamo, I think COVID had a lot to do with my situation at that time. After Dynamo, I was waiting for a good offer. I received a few proposals and thought I could find even better offers. So, the clubs went ahead with their recruitments, and I ended up without a club for a year.

Then, I got in touch with the president of Niort to play football again, enjoy myself, and be part of a team once again. It was more of a personal challenge to prove to myself that I could still play for a while. But following that year, I knew that football was over for me.

- Was that the reason why you decided to end your career at 35 years old?

- It was mainly because I was more focused on business during that period. I had entrepreneurial projects in Burkina Faso, and I was more ambitious in developing those projects and earning a living differently than through football. That being said, football was my passion and hobby. I had a great pleasure playing football, but it takes a lot of time. So, it’s complicated to do both things at once and be able to have time for one’s family life.

- What are your plans for the future? You mentioned that you do not want to be a head coach.

- Well, I have finished my coaching diploma. I have the CAF B license. I have obtained it, and now I can pursue my courses to get the CAF A license. You never know what life might bring. Today, I might not be motivated to be a coach, but tomorrow I might want to become a head coach. The goal is to help my country, above all, and to contribute positively from whichever position. We contributed as players, and we aim to contribute as entrepreneurs and possibly as coaches in the future as well.

- And are you considering a return to Russia?

- Yes, at some point Terek Grozny (Akhmat Grozny) were interested in me, but the deal didn't go through.

- As a player or as a coach?

- As a player, because after I left Dynamo, there were some brief discussions with my agent. He really likes Russia, and I do too; In fact, my children and I love Russia. When the situation calms down a bit, maybe we will go there to visit some friends. But honestly, Russia was a very great experience for me.

- Which club would you prefer to return to work with in Russia? Krasnodar or Dynamo?

- Do you still speak the language fluently?

- Yes, I understand it. I often speak in Russian even unintentionally. The small words we use on the field when playing always come back to me. The kids speak Russian, and my wife speaks it very well too. She still has friends there and calls them from time to time.

- Do you still follow the Russian Premier League (RPL)?

- Yes, I do follow the Russian Premier league. I especially follow Krasnodar and Dynamo. I follow all the clubs that I played for. I keep an eye on them all the time.

- And did you watch the match between Krasnodar and Dynamo when they faced each other in the last match of last season? Which team were you supporting?

- Yes, it's a pity. Dynamo has already been champion, and Krasnodar is relatively new. I would have liked Krasnodar to win the championship, especially because Dynamo is already a legendary club and Krasnodar is a new club. Moreover, the president of Krasnodar has big ambitions and works hard. If Krasnodar had won, it would have been a first-time event. However, what happened is that Zenit won again. I don't think Zenit deserved to be champion last year. The championship was between Krasnodar and Dynamo, and Krasnodar had a good, albeit long, season.

- Do you think Krasnodar and Dynamo have become stronger or weaker compared to when you were playing?

- No, they have become stronger. Back in our time, we focused more on football, on how to play, and on maintaining possession of the ball. There was an obvious philosophy. Now, well, generations change, players change, and ambitions evolve. I think that following my time at Dynamo, the team has made significant progress. When I played at Krasnodar and at Dynamo, we were not playing for the top spots. Dynamo was mostly fighting to avoid relegation or finish at a mid-table spot at best. But now, Dynamo are targeting the top spots in the standings, which is a sign of progress. Similarly, Krasnodar has also improved. Since they nearly won the championship last year, that shows that there has been some concrete progress.

- Do you think Dynamo and Krasnodar can battle for the championship this season?

- Well, it is important to note that Zenit is a strong contender with a lot of experience, excellent players, and considerable resources. They aim at winning the championship title every season. There’s also Lokomotiv and CSKA, so the level of competition is very high. Playing against clubs like Spartak, CSKA, and Zenit means facing top teams. If we compare it to France, you have Paris Saint-Germain, and you might say Marseille, and we can add Lyon and Monaco to the list. In Russia, however, there are many top clubs: Lokomotiv, Spartak, CSKA, Dynamo, Krasnodar, Zenit, and so on. These are all very tough teams.

- What are your thoughts regarding Zenit's dominance? Have matches against them always been the toughest?

- Well, Zenit is on another level. It is very challenging because Zenit have many international players and a lot of Brazilians. The level is really high. So, each year, you have to consider Zenit as a major contender. But there can be surprises. The championship needs to have some surprises; it shouldn’t always be just one champion. It is tough to play only for the second position.

- Currently, Russia is suspended from international tournaments. What are your thoughts on this issue? Is it fair to suspend the activities of players who are not involved in the situation?

- Well, you know, that's politics. Although sports and politics are often said to be separate, they are connected in some ways. I don’t have a clear answer on this. I hope the situation will be resolved and that peace will return, whether in Russia or in the countries facing difficulties. All we can do is hope for peace.

- Do you follow the friendly matches of the Russian national team?

- Yes, I saw that they often play against Belarus and other teams. As I said, one day things will get better, and I hope that peace will return as soon as possible so that we can follow all countries and everyone in the sporting world.

- What do you think regarding a potential friendly match between Russia and Burkina Faso?

It is possible. It would be great to have a match against Russia there. I would definitely be there. If Burkina Faso plays against Russia, I would go to the game. Burkina Faso is my country, and I played in Russia for several years, so it would be very special to me.

- Would you be willing to help organise such a match, or do you think it might be a bit complicated to organise?

No, if I’m asked to help, I would gladly do so. If requested, I can speak to the federation, and we would work everything out. Nevertheless, I think Russia and Burkina Faso already have a good relationship, and their federations can manage things between themselves while we would just be among the spectators. It would be a real pleasure to go play in Russia and to visit friends and so on.

- Krasnodar are actually coached by Murad Musayev, who was also your coach when you were at Krasnodar. How would you describe this coach?

- He is a very good person and an excellent coach who is attentive and listens to his players. He is also respectful. So, I really like him; he is a good coach.

- Do you think that he is the adequate coach to finally lift the championship with this team?

- Yes, because he is quite stable. He doesn’t panic and doesn’t make hasty decisions. He has the intelligence needed to make the right choices, and I believe that he is the right person for the job. He is Russian and understands the language well. He has known the club for many years, knows the president, and knows the players. I hope that he succeeds at Krasnodar.

- You have also worked with Oleg Kononov at Krasnodar. What memory do you have of him?

- I have very fond memories of him. He is truly one of my favourite coaches in Russia. He was someone who contributed a lot to my development and had great belief in me. He even saw me playing at Barcelona someday. Honestly, he gave me confidence and showed me that I had value. That’s important for players. When a player is good, it is essential to acknowledge that and value them, and he really did that for me.

- And in your opinion, why didn’t he succeed at Spartak?

- Spartak is a unique club. It is challenging to be a head coach there because it is a popular club. And like with all popular clubs (such as Marseille, for example), the supporters are very demanding. For Kononov, I think that he needs time to build something. He is a coach who develops over time. If you are looking for immediate results, it is very difficult with him.

- And you have also worked with Igor Shalimov. Was he a tough coach?

- There were already rumours saying that he used to yell at the entire team in the locker room. Is that true?

- Yes, it was complicated with him. Well, all coaches yell sometimes, and that’s not unusual. Coaches will yell if they are not happy, and that’s not a big deal. But working with him was a bit difficult. The relationship between both of us was somewhat complicated. I didn't really enjoy working with him.

- And why do you think he was fired? Were there problems with the players?

- I’m not really sure, but it might have been due to the results. I was told that he was fired while I was with the national team. So, honestly, I don’t know why he was let go.

- Are you still in contact with the President Sergei Galitsky?

- No, I haven’t been in contact with him since I left Krasnodar. Well, that’s my problem too. I do not like to disturb people. When I am not there and do not know what the person is up to, I prefer not to intrude. That being said, the president holds a special place in my heart. There is no question about that. I wish him good health. The last time we spoke, I wished him well and thanked him for giving me the opportunity to play at Krasnodar. I wish the best for the club. Honestly, the president is a wonderful person; he is incredible. What a president and what a man. I have a lot of respect for him.

- Was his presence impactful on the team, the coach, and everything else?

- Yes, the president would come to the training sessions. If he attends the training, it means that he is passionate. He loves football, he loves the sport, he cares about his players, and he loves his club. The club is like his baby. He also respects his players. To me, the president is like a father figure. He is really incredible. Every time I saw him, I was happy.

- Were you in contact with him when you used to be at Krasnodar?

- No, I had the president's number, but I never called him. Since he was always present during the training sessions, I did not need to call him. As he came to the training sessions, I spoke with him there. However, it was more professional than anything else because I'm not very intrusive. I do not talk to people just for the sake of it.

- Did you receive any gifts from the president?

- Yes, I received a gift when I played my 100th match. Like with all players who reach 100 matches, we received watches. But I believe that they have stopped that tradition now. Still, it was so nice because it was a form of recognition from the club with the club's logo on it. When I returned to France, they also sent me a wonderful gift: a package with the club's symbol (the buffalo) and a book. The president has a lot of class.

- And what was the most unusual gift you have received from him, or from Krasnodar in general?

- When I first arrived in Krasnodar, we were given flowers at every match and the day after each victory. We had to take those flowers back to our wives. So I think that really leaves a good impression. The president had class and was amazing.

- And why did you leave Krasnodar? What was the reason?

- I never wanted to leave Krasnodar. My contract was ending, and I met with the sporting director 2 or 3 times. He made me an offer that suggested lowering my salary. I told him no, specifying that if he was not going to offer more than what I used to earn, he shouldn’t offer less, especially when taking into consideration the fact that we had a good season. We finished 3rd in the league and won a medal.

Therefore, it is disrespectful to want to lower the salary for a player who has played the entire season and performed consistently throughout. I said that they should at least maintain my current salary and not reduce it.

Moreover, I had Besiktas interested in me in January, and Krasnodar asked me to stay and finish the season before discussing Besiktas’ offer. I met with the sporting director 2 or 3 times, and we talked about it. I gave him my conditions, and he presented his lower offers. I told him that the offer was not logical. I also told him that since the offers are too low, I am not interested in these proposals because they are not rewarding. However, when the president came to say goodbye, I did not bring up the subject with him at any point.

If it is not going to be at Krasnodar, it would be somewhere else. That is how life is. I am not sad, I'm grateful. But I definitely did not want to leave Krasnodar. Even if I had finished my career there, I would not have minded at all. That was my goal, especially since I was 31 at the time. Even if they had offered me a two-year contract or a one-year renewal each time, I would not have minded because I knew I was strong and would always meet the expectations and the challenge. Anyways, I was not happy with how I left the club. I was really not pleased with the way it went. I could have stayed at the club, but well, that is life and business.

- You have also played with the goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, who has been transferred to PSG lately. Were you surprised by this transfer?

- No, not at all, because he is a very good goalkeeper. Even when he used to come and train with us occasionally and then go back to the academy, he used to make impressive saves and was very strong. We all took to him right away when he joined us.

- Will he be able to earn his place against Donnarumma?

- You know it is often complicated in these cases because Donnarumma is an Italian international with a big name. In Europe, sometimes it is more about the name than the talent, so it can be tough. But I think Safonov can compete with him if given the chance.

- And for Matvei, will you meet him to give him some advice about places in France and everything?

- Well, he’ll adapt. He’s intelligent and not young anymore.

- And there’s Eduard Spertsyan, who currently plays for Krasnodar. He used to train with the team when you were there.

- Yes, he used to come occasionally but did not play. I used to call him “Fiston”; he was like a son to me.

- It was rumoured that Spertsyan could be transferred to Europe. Do you think he could play in Ligue 1?

- I saw that he was more likely going to move to Lens. He is already an Armenian international who performs well with his national team. So, he can play in Ligue 1. He just needs to be given a chance because he has the quality needed for the role. He is a very good player. Last year, he took Krasnodar far in the league, and now he is the team captain. So, he is a valuable player.

- What is your most vivid or notable memory of Spertsyan? Were there any funny moments with him?

- Yes, he used to train with me, and we were together all the time when he came to training. I even gave him my jersey. He was my little guy whom I really appreciated. But outside of the field, we did not see each other much because he was at the academy.

- Which other Russian players from Krasnodar are capable of playing in the top 5 European leagues?

Well, I’m not very familiar with all the current players in the Russian League at the moment. There are many promising young players right now. Anyways, you have to take the risk of putting them in and they will adapt. You know, the Russian level and the European level are not that different anymore. When we were there, we beat Nice, which was first in France at that time. We also won against Klopp’s and Tuchel’s Borussia Dortmund. Zenit has beaten Lyon several times as well. And Spartak has defeated several European teams. So, it’s almost the same level.

- And what do Russian players lack to play in Europe?

Honestly, if I were a Russian player playing in the Russian league, I wouldn’t even envy the guys playing in Europe. I have played in both leagues, and I think that the Russian league is not inferior to the European leagues.

- You spent two seasons at Dynamo. How do you remember your time in Moscow?

Well, you know, I spent a lot of time in Krasnodar. But my time at Dynamo was very strange. It was a very complicated season at the beginning with the coach who brought me in. The coach was good and had good ambitions, but Dynamo was a particular club. And when you arrive at Dynamo, there are things that have been in place for a long time, which require changes. Moreover, I did not like working with the sporting director who was there at that time and who is still there now. Dynamo was trying to focus on youth and all. As a club, Dynamo is magnificent, their supporters and their stadium were also beautiful. The president is a good person too.

However, I did not like working with the sporting director because there were too many stories behind my back, and my time there was not healthy at all. There was not a familial atmosphere or cohesion, plus the coaches were changing all the time as well. It was complicated.

And as I left Krasnodar as a key player who was playing all the time, I might have arrived at Dynamo with the wrong ambitions. But it was a very strange period.

- Did you leave the club for that reason then?

Well, they wanted to loan me at one point and they did not respect me. Moreover, the sporting director was too strange and there were too many things that I did not like. I was not feeling good. Honestly, I did not feel good at any point. When the first coach was there, there were ambitions and he had a philosophy. But after that, the rest was too strange. There was a lot of disrespect. My only desire was for that period to end quickly.

- Which one of the guys do you miss the most? Is there anyone from Dynamo that you miss?

There is Clinton, whom I spent time with, as well as the captain, who was a good person. I was always with him too. There were other very good people at Dynamo. Among the players, everything was fine. Nevertheless, I did not really feel good at Dynamo because there was too much frustration. When you leave Krasnodar as a key player and go to Dynamo to play 10 minutes at the end of the game, it feels like they are doing you favours to get you on the field. I did not like that. It is one of the reasons that hastened my desire to stop playing football, with Covid adding to it.

- Is it true that you noticed Arsen Zakharyan’s talent at the Dynamo Academy?

Yes, Zakharyan was strong and Konstantin Tyukavin was very good too. I was with them all the time. When young players start their careers, you immediately see if there is something special in them more or less. I was always with the young players, talking with them and laughing together and all.

- Why didn’t Zakharyan manage to play for Real Sociedad in his first season? Do you think the French league suits him better?

It takes a bit of time to adapt to the language and habits. To succeed in Europe, you also need to have personality. When I signed with Marseille, I fought for a long time during the training because I wanted to play and was not there to sit on the bench. When you come to Europe, you have to impose yourself to play. If it is not there, it will be somewhere else. You should not stay just for the sake of staying.

- And Alexander Golovin also plays in Ligue 1. What do French supporters think of him?

He is good. I played against him when he was young at CSKA. He is respected here in France. They say he is a bit fragile but they respect him. He has talent.

- What do you think of Tyukavin as a player?

Tyukavin is a good striker who has the flair of a forward. He’s a pure striker.

- You also worked with Dmitri Khokhlov and Sandro Schwartz at Dynamo.

Khokhlov was someone I liked a lot and who brought me to Dynamo. He wanted me no matter what. But we were not lucky under his management even though he had a good philosophy. Great players often lack luck as coaches. And he lacked luck, knowing that he was a great coach. I liked him a lot and he respected me as well.

- And in your opinion, why didn’t he manage to build a strong team?

- Because he wanted to change something that he might not have been able to change. He wanted to slightly change the mentality of the old players at Dynamo like the captain and the key players. But it is complicated with the veterans.

- Under Schwartz, the team flourished significantly. What did Sandro do to make the team stronger under his management?

- With Sandro, it was more about working on running and on physical fitness. But we had some good players who were pacy enough like the two Simanski. They were young and liked to run a lot. We also had a lot of luck with penalties and thanks to VAR.

- Was there a significant tactical aspect too or was it thanks to pure motivation?

- Well, the work with him was based on intensity and not really on imposing the game. For me, I have no problem with intensity, but I also like to have possession of the ball. I adopted that style from Krasnodar actually. So, I already had that in my blood since I was used to playing in a system where we always had the ball for the four years I spent at Krasnodar. We did not always run after the ball. There was intensity, but everything was done with the ball. It was different. And when I left Krasnodar, I told my agent that I did not want to stay in Russia anymore. As soon as my time at Krasnodar was over, I told him to leave Russia because I had already had enough, just like I did in Marseille.

When I left Marseille, I had offers from other clubs, but I did not want to stay in France. I wanted to change countries. In Russia, I did not like how my footballing journey ended there.

- With what feeling did you leave Dynamo?

- Well, it was a feeling of weariness. I had lost my hunger for football. Then, I unconsciously let go, as it had worn me out mentally. I think if it were now, I should have left the club at the end of the first year because I had an offer from Kasımpaşa in Turkey that I had refused.

In fact, I refused because the offer came in the middle of the season and I was under contract. I wanted to finish my contract and then leave. Also, I have never liked leaving in the middle of a season on loan. I do not like leaving and then coming back, and I have never been loaned out.

- Did you really bring a lot of Dynamo and Krasnodar shirts to Burkina Faso?

- Yes, a lot.

- And do people there wear Russian teams’ shirts?

- Yes, almost everyone. I have brought at least 10,000 shirts of the teams I played with to Burkina because I bought a lot of shirts and had many friends. I have shirts from Dynamo, Krasnodar, Kuban, Niort, and Marseille.

From time to time, I also go to the stadium in Marseille since it is close to where I live. But I rarely watch football on TV now. I am not very interested anymore.

- Neither on TV nor at the stadium?

- I often told the supporters that they are strong and courageous. They are passionate. But for me as a former player, it actually bores me to go to the stadium to watch a match for 90 minutes.

- And in general, what are your memories of Russia?

- Honestly, until tomorrow, I can only speak well of Russia. It is true that it is cold, but we are not there when it is really cold. The stadiums are beautiful, especially after the World Cup. People are incredibly kind in Russia as well. Regarding racism, it exists everywhere and not just in Russia. And maybe they are not aware of it because they do not know. There are people who have never seen Black people in their lives. How do you expect them to react if they see a Black person?

Now, mentalities are changing. And I can only say positive things about Russia. There are no negative aspects related to Russia.

- Were there any strange or funny situations regarding your transfer to Krasnodar during your first visit?

- When I arrived at FK Krasnodar, the president came by helicopter, and it was the first time I had ever been in a helicopter. And when the president arrived, I had to go sign my contract before coming back to training. So, he asked me to get into his helicopter and I went to the academy. Afterwards, I signed the contract, and I saw the Kuban manager there as well as the sporting director who did not want me to sign elsewhere. And when the Krasnodar offer came, I saw him in the office for the signing. And he greeted me, wishing me good luck.

So, I was very happy to get into the helicopter and play for Krasnodar. The training centre at Krasnodar is incredible. It is on another level. I played at Marseille, but it is not the same standard. Well, Krasnodar is on another level. The Krasnodar stadium is also incredible. I really enjoyed playing at Krasnodar and had a lot of fun.

- Is Krasnodar your favourite team among the teams you have played for?

- I won titles with Marseille. But for the level of football and the quality of play, I enjoyed playing at Krasnodar a lot. I cannot even compare. Moreover, I was a bit younger at Marseille. But at Krasnodar, I was a key player and was important. There is nothing better.

- What is the most difficult thing for someone visiting Russia for the first time? What should they get used to?

- Well, I think you should avoid visiting the country during the cold months, from December to February. However, you can visit it even during the cold now because everything is interiorized. The supermarkets are beautiful and there are games everywhere for children. Everything is set up for children. There are cinemas, malls, supermarkets, etc. Additionally, everything is secure. Life in Moscow is incredible. Honestly, I can only speak positively about this country.

 - And which team is the most difficult to face in Russia?

- Well, the most difficult was CSKA before, as well as Spartak. Zenit, Akhmat, Anzhi Makhachkala, and Kuban were also hard to beat.

- And against whom did you always have complicated battles on the field?

- It was the Swedish player Wernbloom. He tired me out because he talked too much and annoyed me a lot. He did not have a good mentality. I could not stand him.

- When there were missed matches or mistakes, did conflicts in the locker room often take place?

- Not at Krasnodar. The president often came to talk to us. But among us, it was fine because we did not have problems between each other.

- Who talked to you the most about mistakes in general?

- It was the coach during video analysis. But with Shalimov, it was even tougher and more brutal. Honestly, working with him was complicated.

- And do you still do charity work? Do you still help hospitals?

- Yes, in Burkina Faso. I often make donations to orphanages and give balls to clubs, etc. I try to contribute a little to Burkina Faso because I frequently go there currently.

- And you said you would like to become the Minister of Sports in Burkina Faso. Is that true?

- Minister? No, that’s a rumour. I am just an athlete, and I do not get into politics.

- Your uncle was the president of the country until 2022, the year of the coup. Is he doing better after his release?

- Yes, we have met many times, and he is doing well. He has no problems at the moment.

- And what do you think of France’s performance in the last Euro as well as the type of football proposed by Didier Deschamps?

- Didier Deschamps’ football has always been like that. His aim is to win. Since I worked with him for three years, the most important thing for him is to win. He is not interested in tiki-taka, for example. I would like to remind you that they reached the final too.

- Concerning Mbappé, do you think he was not at his best during this Euro?

- The seasons are long now, and it is so complicated with his transfer to Real and the season he had in Paris where the coach often took him off. You have to know that football is very tied to morale. But I think up until now, the team still relies on him and he is still impactful. I hope it will work out for him because he is a great player.

- And at Real Madrid, do you think he can become the best soon?

- He needs some time to adapt. Vinicius also needed time to adapt at the beginning. Now, he is one of the best players in the team. So, he will need some adaptation time for sure.

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