Mon premier match
My First Match
A boy joins his neighborhood football team in Abidjan and plays in his very first match.
- sports
- friendship
- confidence
Tap an underlined word to see its meaning.
What you'll encounter
- Grammar
- present tense
- aller + infinitive (futur proche)
- Vocabulary
- sports and football vocabulary
- feelings vocabulary
- Skills
- reading a simple sports narrative
- recognizing encouragement/support language in dialogue
Yacouba adore le football et rêve de jouer avec l’équipe du quartier. Il a neuf ans et habite à Abidjan, en Côte d’Ivoire.
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Yacouba loves football and dreams of playing with the neighborhood team. He is nine years old and lives in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Un jour, son grand frère l’emmène au terrain de football près de chez eux. « Tu peux t’entraîner avec nous », dit l’entraîneur, Monsieur Koffi. Yacouba est très content.
Show English
One day, his older brother takes him to the football field near their home. "You can train with us," says the coach, Monsieur Koffi. Yacouba is very happy.
À l’entraînement, Yacouba rencontre les autres joueurs. Ils sont tous plus grands que lui, mais ils sont gentils. « Bienvenue dans l’équipe ! » dit un garçon nommé Didier.
Show English
At training, Yacouba meets the other players. They are all bigger than him, but they are kind. "Welcome to the team!" says a boy named Didier.
Yacouba s’entraîne chaque mercredi après l’école. Il apprend à , à passer le ballon et à courir vite. Peu à peu, il devient plus fort.
Show English
Yacouba trains every Wednesday after school. He learns to dribble, pass the ball, and run fast. Little by little, he becomes stronger.
Le matin du match, Yacouba se réveille tôt. Il met son préféré, numéro sept, et mange un bon petit-déjeuner avant de partir.
Show English
On the morning of the match, Yacouba wakes up early. He puts on his favorite jersey, number seven, and eats a good breakfast before leaving.
Avant le match, toute l’équipe fait des exercices d’ ensemble. Ils courent autour du terrain et s’étirent les jambes. L’entraîneur donne les dernières consignes.
Show English
Before the match, the whole team does warm-up exercises together. They run around the field and stretch their legs. The coach gives the last instructions.
Le samedi suivant, c’est le jour du premier match de Yacouba. Son cœur bat très fort. « J’ai peur de faire une erreur », dit-il à Didier avant le match.
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The following Saturday is the day of Yacouba's first match. His heart beats very fast. "I'm afraid of making a mistake," he tells Didier before the match.
« Ne t’inquiète pas », répond Didier. « On est une équipe. Si tu fais une erreur, on t’aide. » Ces mots Yacouba.
Show English
"Don't worry," answers Didier. "We're a team. If you make a mistake, we help you." These words reassure Yacouba.
Le match commence. Les deux équipes courent après le ballon sur le terrain . Au début, Yacouba a un peu peur du ballon et manque une occasion facile. Mais il ne se pas.
Show English
The match begins. Both teams run after the ball on the dusty field. At first, Yacouba is a little afraid of the ball and misses an easy chance. But he doesn't get discouraged.
Il respire profondément et continue à jouer avec , il passe le ballon à ses coéquipiers.
Show English
He breathes deeply and keeps playing with focus, passing the ball to his teammates.
Plus tard dans le match, un joueur de l’autre équipe court vite vers le but de Yacouba. Didier l’arrête juste à temps, et toute l’équipe respire de .
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Later in the match, a player from the other team runs fast toward Yacouba's goal. Didier stops him just in time, and the whole team breathes a sigh of relief.
Dans la deuxième moitié du match, Didier fait une passe parfaite à Yacouba, juste devant le but. Yacouba tire, et le ballon entre dans le ! « But ! » crient tous ses coéquipiers.
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In the second half of the match, Didier makes a perfect pass to Yacouba, right in front of the goal. Yacouba shoots, and the ball goes into the net! "Goal!" shout all his teammates.
Tous ses coéquipiers courent vers lui et le félicitent. L’entraîneur, Monsieur Koffi, lève le pouce avec un grand sourire. Yacouba se sent incroyablement heureux.
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All his teammates run toward him and congratulate him. The coach, Monsieur Koffi, gives a big thumbs-up with a huge smile. Yacouba feels incredibly happy.
À la fin du match, l’équipe de Yacouba gagne deux buts à un. Tout le monde célèbre ensemble, les bras en l’air. Yacouba se sent enfin membre de l’équipe.
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At the end of the match, Yacouba's team wins two goals to one. Everyone celebrates together, arms raised. Yacouba finally feels like a true member of the team.
Après le match, l’entraîneur offre des fruits et de l’eau à toute l’équipe. Les joueurs s’assoient ensemble sur l’herbe et parlent du match avec enthousiasme.
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After the match, the coach offers fruit and water to the whole team. The players sit together on the grass and talk about the match enthusiastically.
Sur le chemin du retour, son grand frère le félicite aussi. « Tu deviens un vrai joueur », dit-il, fier de son petit frère.
Show English
On the way home, his older brother congratulates him too. "You're becoming a real player," he says, proud of his little brother.
Le soir, Yacouba raconte le match à toute sa famille. Tout le monde l’écoute avec admiration. « Je marque un but, et notre équipe gagne le match ! » dit-il fièrement. Il a déjà envie de jouer le match suivant.
Show English
That evening, Yacouba tells his whole family about the match. Everyone listens to him with admiration. "I score a goal, and our team wins the match!" he says proudly. He already can't wait to play the next match.
Show full English translation
Yacouba loves football and dreams of playing with the neighborhood team. He is nine years old and lives in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
One day, his older brother takes him to the football field near their home. "You can train with us," says the coach, Monsieur Koffi. Yacouba is very happy.
At training, Yacouba meets the other players. They are all bigger than him, but they are kind. "Welcome to the team!" says a boy named Didier.
Yacouba trains every Wednesday after school. He learns to dribble, pass the ball, and run fast. Little by little, he becomes stronger.
On the morning of the match, Yacouba wakes up early. He puts on his favorite jersey, number seven, and eats a good breakfast before leaving.
Before the match, the whole team does warm-up exercises together. They run around the field and stretch their legs. The coach gives the last instructions.
The following Saturday is the day of Yacouba's first match. His heart beats very fast. "I'm afraid of making a mistake," he tells Didier before the match.
"Don't worry," answers Didier. "We're a team. If you make a mistake, we help you." These words reassure Yacouba.
The match begins. Both teams run after the ball on the dusty field. At first, Yacouba is a little afraid of the ball and misses an easy chance. But he doesn't get discouraged.
He breathes deeply and keeps playing with focus, passing the ball to his teammates.
Later in the match, a player from the other team runs fast toward Yacouba's goal. Didier stops him just in time, and the whole team breathes a sigh of relief.
In the second half of the match, Didier makes a perfect pass to Yacouba, right in front of the goal. Yacouba shoots, and the ball goes into the net! "Goal!" shout all his teammates.
All his teammates run toward him and congratulate him. The coach, Monsieur Koffi, gives a big thumbs-up with a huge smile. Yacouba feels incredibly happy.
At the end of the match, Yacouba's team wins two goals to one. Everyone celebrates together, arms raised. Yacouba finally feels like a true member of the team.
After the match, the coach offers fruit and water to the whole team. The players sit together on the grass and talk about the match enthusiastically.
On the way home, his older brother congratulates him too. "You're becoming a real player," he says, proud of his little brother.
That evening, Yacouba tells his whole family about the match. Everyone listens to him with admiration. "I score a goal, and our team wins the match!" he says proudly. He already can't wait to play the next match.
Words to know
- dribbler
- — to dribble
- maillot
- — jersey
- échauffement
- — warm-up
- rassurent
- — reassure
- poussiéreux
- — dusty
- décourage
- — gets discouraged
- concentration
- — focus
- soulagement
- — relief
- filet
- — net