The Frenchman’s sporting ambition and academic desire to improve as a player and a person will see him pull on a CAPERS jersey in 2024.

By IAIN KING

LILIAN BENJAMIN'S spirit of adventure has already taken him out of his comfort zone in France to the testing environment of Academy football in Wales. Now the Frenchman's sporting ambition and academic desire to improve as a player and a person will see him pull on a CAPERS jersey in 2024.

Lilian will arrive on Cape Breton in August to study Business Administration and look to help Men's Program Head Coach Deano Morley in his team's soccer quest to retain their cherished U SPORTS National Championship. He comes owing a debt of gratitude to mentor Marvin Omie, now an Assistant Coach with Québec League One side Laval SC, who took him on that life-changing move to Cardiff.

"My love for the game began in my hometown of Pantin, just outside Paris. I was with local teams and then began to progress in the regional divisions," explains Lilian. "Then I met coach Marvin, and he changed my life when he took me to Wales when he moved there. Marvin has been a huge influence on me. He played in the Canadian Premier League when he was younger and also in China and England. It's thanks to him that I am where I am."

English football's Academy system is divided into Categories based on the standard of soccer education and programs they provide with the game's behemoths like champions Manchester City in Cat One. Lilian played for a French-influenced franchise called Football Class Academy and impressed against the likes of Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"Wales was a tremendous experience because I was able to focus on my football," he enthuses. "I like environments where there are few distractions and that's what attracted me to Cape Breton. I loved my year in Cardiff and the improvement in my game was immense through playing 40 matches at a great level. That was a season that meant so much to me."

Benjamin cites his "will to win" and "fighting spirit" as key qualities he can bring to the CAPERS and he needed those as he adapted to a tougher and more physical style of play in English soccer. Schooled in his technique in France, he had to learn to fight for the right to show those skills on the ball whether he was operating in his favoured midfield roles or at right full-back where he feels he can bring options to new coach, Deano.

"I have bravery and heart, I feel I can win my battles for the CAPERS," promises Lilian. "I can control and pass and find spaces to help my team-mates. That's the energy I aim to bring. I will be a good influence in the locker-room and add to what we already have."

This summer a key influence and inspirational leadership group member of Morley's program, Raine Lyn, graduated after leaving CBU on the ultimate high as a national title winner. He exemplified qualities Deano values so much and as he looked forward to welcoming Lilian coach Morley said: "Building Championship teams is about finding players who complement each other, who can play roles within a team dynamic, finding special talents who have that X Factor.

"Yet arguably, most importantly, it's about finding players who will run through a wall for you. These players wear their hearts on their sleeves and are willing to do the dirty work. Lilian is technical, covers ground well, defends with passion and is an intelligent footballer. He reminds me of one of our departing captains Raine Lyn whose impact on our program was immense. I don't for a second doubt that Lilian can mirror that."

Lilian comes into the AUS having already done his homework. He has had calls with his new CAPERS teammate Jamie Nicholson who was also in the English Academy system with Exeter City before starting his new life in Canada. Those talks have helped him find some answers to what lies ahead both as a student and a player and Benjamin is convinced he has found the next mentor to guide him on a fresh chapter of his journey.

"The day I met Deano I knew that I wanted to commit to his team," reveals Lilian. "I had such a good impression of the coach and I also watched interviews of his to get to know his views on the game. He is a good person who develops you as a player and person and that matters to me, outside the pitch too. I have to learn to become a student and an athlete now and I know I will have the people around me to help me to do that."

"My first dream is to become a professional player, but I know that is not forever and I have to think of my life too. I am studying business administration to ensure I will have a career outside of the game when I need it."

"I am coming to the champions of Canada and that was a big part of my thinking. It's the place where I can become what I want to become."