Dimitry Bertaud, Montpellier goalkeeper, will soon make his debut with the national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During two friendly matches against New Zealand and Angola, Bertaud will finally have the opportunity to wear the jersey of the Congolese team.
It is with great pride that the Montpellier goalkeeper joins this team, although he has never had the opportunity to travel to the DRC before. For him, it is the right time to seize this opportunity, both on a sporting and personal level. Indeed, his Congolese origins through his grandfather have always been dear to him, and joining the Congolese selection will allow him to reconnect with his roots.
In a statement to the French press, Bertaud explains: “In fact, it is my grandfather who is Congolese, who was born there and who came to France. He met my grandmother, they had then my mother. My mother never went there, neither did I. She lost her father very young, she was eight years old. We always talked about it, but it’s not necessarily in the culture, at home . So this will also allow me to look into my origins.”
At 25 years old, Bertaud has not had much playing time this season with Montpellier due to strong competition as a goalkeeper. Thus, this opportunity to represent the DRC offers him a new international status and will also allow him to travel and discover new horizons.
Although some believe that Bertaud could have waited for a possible selection for the French team, the goalkeeper affirms that his choice is both pragmatic and sentimental: “So I made this choice and I am very proud of that.”
We can only hope that this new experience with the Congolese selection will be a success for Dimitry Bertaud, and that it will open new doors for him in his professional career.