Most players would be grateful for the talent to do one thing
very well, but a select breed possess such a complete bag of tricks
they can shine in any position. Stephane Sessegnon is one of the
lucky few.
Trained to operate as a holding midfielder back in his native
Benin, and a multifunctional midfielder when he arrived in France
to join Creteil in 2004, the youngster has already been fielded in
three different positions since signing for Le Mans in 2006.
Brought in as a deep-lying playmaker, Sessegnon was then
moved to the right by Frederic Hantz halfway through 2007, before
spending the entire 2007/08 campaign as a No10 under new coach Rudi
Garcia. "I'm pretty satisfied with my season," he
told
FIFA.com. "I was able to increase my range of
skills and progress so much faster. It's fun to play further up
the pitch. I get a lot of pleasure from taking part in
attacks."
As the free electron roaming behind two forwards, Sessegnon
played a crucial role in what proved to be an excellent season for
Le Mans, who finished ninth in France's top flight, just five
points out of the European places. Overall, his personal tally read
six goals and six assists.
That kind of form could help Benin put their unflattering CAF
Africa Cup of Nations 2008 record behind them once and for all. The
Squirrels were eliminated after three consecutive defeats in the
first round (scoring one goal and conceding seven), however
Sessegnon believes things could have been worse.
"I don't look back at that competition as a huge
disappointment," he said. "We expected to suffer a lot
more than that. Up against such big teams as Côte d'Ivoire,
Nigeria and Mali, I think we didn't come out of it too
badly."
The road to South Africa
He also feels the team learnt from the experience, thanks to
such close contact with players as gifted as Didier Drogba, John
Obi Mikel and Frederic Kanoute. But the time for dwelling on the
past is over, and it is to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
that everyone must now look.
Benin's Group 3 qualifying campaign is fast approaching,
with their opening match taking them to Luanda to face Angola on 1
June, ahead of further tests against fellow section rivals Uganda
and Niger. "I reckon our group is pretty open," said
Sessegnon. "We'll have to play with lots of humility but
we'll have a chance."
That said, the player born on 1 June 1984 in Allahe, Benin,
is not expecting the Angolans to allow him a stress-free birthday.
"
As unpredictable in conversation as he is on the pitch,
Sessegnon does not allow the impression of caution to reign too
long before underlining the Squirrels' ambitions. "Above
all, our goal will be to qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of
Nations," he said.
"And to carry on our evolution step by step. But of
course we'll go at it full pelt if there's a chance of
reaching South Africa. First place could be beyond us, but we can
figure among the best of the second-placed sides."
With their flexible rising star believing they can do it,
Benin ought to find that nothing is impossible.
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