“One day, I hope people will say: ‘I saw Manu Koné, I found a job, and I became an engineer or even a minister.’”
Manu Koné, player for the French national team and AS Roma, hosted the MK Cup yesterday — a must-attend event in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, the town where he grew up. Manu firmly believes that his success shouldn’t be an exception. For this third edition, he wanted to go further by adding new activities designed to uncover potential and spark new ambitions.
In addition to the now iconic football tournament and closing concert, this year’s MK Cup featured:
💡 A Career & Entrepreneurship Zone
In this area, local youth participated in a job-seeking workshop led by Jeune Afrique’s HR director Choukrane Said and Abir Msaddek. They also had the chance to speak with Mozaïk RH, a leading organization connecting top companies with underserved communities.
Les Déterminés, an initiative that’s been fueling entrepreneurial ambition in the suburbs for over 10 years, were also on-site to support up-and-coming startups. RATP and the staffing agency Drop Interim hosted a job dating session, while Win Sport and IFSA schools were present to offer guidance on post-high school opportunities, particularly in the sports industry.
⚽ Careers in Football Zone
Too often, young people who live and breathe football believe the only way to turn their passion into a profession is by becoming a pro player.
Yesterday, MK Cup attendees got to meet with professional referees like Gaël Angoula, a Ligue 1 ref with a huge heart and an inspiring story, and Ali Djedid, who balances high-level officiating with a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Also present was Anoush Morel, a press officer working in sports and e-sports — and you should’ve seen the look on the kids’ faces when Raphaël Varane’s name popped up on her WhatsApp call screen!
Joining them were rising stars Mehdi Hormat (co-founder of Instant Foot) and Alexandre Chaillol (journalist at Foot Mercato), two of the most popular football media figures among young fans.
The sports medicine field was also well represented with Nordine Benhamed, a physiotherapist who worked with Red Star FC, and Siam Qasi, team doctor for FC 93.
🔝 Performance Zone
Young participants and their parents interacted with the professionals and tools that support Manu in his daily life. His nutritionist, Cécile Capdeville, was on hand to raise awareness about balanced diets, while others got to test out Meta VR headsets, which help players improve on-field decision-making.
🎨 Culture Zone
The event also welcomed manga artist Tiers Monde, creator of Hajime, the manga that tells the story of judo champion Teddy Riner.