Yverdon players suddenly at the top: the rise of Nehemie Lusuena

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In Yverdon, Nehemie Lusuena is part of the inventory. He has (almost) always played in the white and green colors of his hometown. The only trip abroad was a trip to the Vaud team many years ago. “At a certain point I had enough of football, especially the atmosphere in general,” explains the defensive midfielder. “So I took a sabbatical and used it to complete my EFZ as a logistics employee in peace.” While completing his apprenticeship, the young Vaud native was encouraged by his friends at the time to join Yverdon’s second team in the 4th Division. “The two training sessions a week appealed to me,” he laughs.

One season changed everything

Then, in the 2015/16 season, everything moves very quickly for Nehemie Lusuena. He recalls: “Everything is going well with the second team. We win matches and even promote to the 3rd division.” Thanks to his good performances, the Yverdoner is called up with the A-Juniors for the final tournament in the Coca-Cola Junior League. He trains there and plays a good tournament.

The season is coming to an end and Yverdon’s first team still have two games to go in the first division. Nehemie Lusuena is called to the first team: “I played two good halves.” From then on he was an integral part of the first team.

Stopped by passersby

With his heart club, the defensive midfielder has made it through almost all divisions: 1st Division, Promotion League, Challenge League and on Sunday (4.30 pm, Zurich) the Super League. Which climb was the most beautiful? “The last one,” he replies. “It was the most emotional climb, with a lot of enthusiasm. We were walking around town and people stopped to say “thank you guys”.

In his seven years with the YS first team, Nehemie has seen Lusuena a lot. And two memories made a particular impression on him: his first goal in the Challenge League against Neuchâtel Xamax and “playing with Djibril Cissé”, the 25-year-old midfielder recalls. “It was something special to play with such a player.”

The Champions League?

After Djibril Cissé, the born Yverdon will now play on the same field as Fabian Frei, Kastriot Imeri or Jean-Pierre Nsamé. “The best thing is that we can now play on the biggest Swiss stage. And that we are in Fifa (video game). I will play my next match with ourselves.”

So on Sunday, Yverdon will participate in his first Super League match since 2006. A match in Zurich in which “Nehemie has a good chance to play”, according to his coach Marco Schällibaum. “The competition is very strong this year,” says Nehemise Lusuena. “But I’ll try to get my regular spot.”

With a Super League win, Nehemise Lusuena would have seen almost everything with YS. Can you already think about next year’s Champions League? “That’s the goal,” he smiles. “Definitely bring Yverdon to Europe. If I can do that, I have achieved everything with this club.”

Source : Blick