France midfielder Amel Majri has opened up on how the 2012 AFCON winning coach, Herve Renard, has made the national team conducive for young mothers.
Despite Majri admitting that the journey has not been easy, she is full of praise for new French Women’s National team coach, Renard.
On 5 July 2022, the Olympique Lyonnais midfielder became the mother of Maryam and returned to football on 15 December 2022, just five months after giving birth.
Shortly after, the 30-year-old earned a recall to the France squad and became the first player in Tricolores history to report for international duty with a young child.
Majri, who is capped over 60 times, is hoping to make the final Les Bleues squad for the FIFA World Cup under the tutelage of Renard. She is however aware that she needs to work on herself to get a chance.
“I’d say I’m at 98 per cent of my capacity,” Majri said. “I feel like I’m back but that I can go much further. I want to gain even more muscle mass without impacting my game.”
The former Tunisia Under-20 winger disclosed that Renard and the national team offered her similar conditions to her club and was able to go with her child to the national team camp.
“In April, I was able to bring my daughter with me when the team met up that month. In fact, she (Maryam) was with me all the time,” she revealed.
Majri states that the 2-time Africa Cup winning coach is “attentive” and “informed” about motherhood.
“The coach is really attentive and informed on the subject of motherhood among athletes. We talk a lot about what could work best for all of us.”
Renard wants a proper structure for players with young children
In one of his press conferences, the former Saudi Arabia head coach mentioned that it is “essential to provide a structure to players with young children.”
Part of the conditions include providing a nanny agency for the next international break, so as to provide better working conditions for the players.
On the appointment of Renard, Majri said she was eager to work with him having followed him when he was at the helm of Morocco.
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“When he was coaching Morocco, I could see his passion and determination on the side-line. I was thinking, wow, he’s going to be like that with us,” she disclosed.
“I was really looking forward to working with him…. And seeing what he’d bring to the national team…his approach centres on solidarity above all. Team spirit is his message and creed.”
France is in Group F alongside Brazil, debutants Jamaica and Panama. Les Blues will open their campaign against the Reggae Ladies of Jamaica on 23 July 2023.
