Lamine Diack: “I’m Ready to Play.”

COMMERCE CITY – Lamine Diack has been well traveled in his handful of professional seasons after leaving his native Senegal. Plying his skills in Macedonia, Turkey, and France has led him to his latest move finalized in February. The native of Dakar lands in Colorado until at least the end of July, aiming to add a physical presence to the Rapids midfield and rebuilding project in Commerce City.

From school football to filling his passport:

A former U20 international for Senegal, Lamine began his career the same way many did. However, he took advantage of a crucial opportunity when he was a teenager back home. “I grew up playing with friends around home in Senegal. I was playing, where I grow up they call it school football, so I began there. Oslo academy made a test and they saw me there,” the 23-year-old told Burgundy Wave.

He developed at the academy, which has produced players currently in Ligue 1 France as well as the English Premier League. Lamine took his next big step towards following that path seven years ago. Little did he know just how much that would prepare him for his move to MLS.

“In 2017 we went to Norway to a tournament. It was my first travels to Europe and it was very, very cold,” the easy-smiling midfielder said.

Lamine impressed enough at his academy level to join up with the Senegal U20 squad, and in 2019 even helped them reach the age group’s African Cup of Nations Final. That elevated competition and notoriety would send him to his first stint in Europe at the young age of 18.

“After the national team, I moved to Macedonia and played two years. For me it was a good experience, because when I moved first to Macedonia it was very hard”, admitted Lamine.

“At the time, I didn’t speak English and their players did. I tried to learn. I was not alone. I was with friends who played football, so that helped me.”

After appearing in 52 matches for FC Shkupi, including three during their Europa League campaigns in 2019-21, Lamine accepted a move to Tuzlaspor of the Turkish First League that summer for 34 appearances. That stint took him briefly to Fenerbache, who then transferred him to Ankaragucu of the Turkish Super Lig. He made 26 appearances there as they won the league. In 2023, his journey continued where he could widely use his native French language and he arrived at FC Nantes of Ligue 1.

“In Turkey, the game is physical but an open game,” Lamine admits. “It’s attack and defend, so you have to be ready physically to play that. It was a nice experience – I like it.”

However, that is a lot of moving between clubs, cities, coaches, and teammates in a short five years of experience, and Lamine relishes the chances each has brought him so far.

“It’s a good experience. Every time you want to improve yourself,” he explains. “That’s why I have a lot of movement to a lot of countries. Every coach has his mentality and experience, some good, some bad, but so far what I see here is no difference from here to where I came.”

Which brings Lamine to Colorado and MLS under new Rapids Head Coach Chris Armas and his system.

Still waiting for that Rapids debut: 

“We are incredibly happy to bring Lamine to our club,” said Armas after Diack’s loan from FC Nantes was announced. “He is a ball winning, dynamic central midfielder who fits our playing style very well. Lamine is also a person of high character which also made him extremely appealing.”

Diack likes what he’s experienced so far in Colorado under Armas and his staff. Even though he hasn’t seen the field just yet, that time is coming very soon and the newcomer appreciates how he is being taken care of so far. 

“The coach has experience, he brings a lot of energy, in the team everybody is giving his best for the team which will help. He helps each one of us to grow.

“They just want to help me to grow in every way possible on the field and outside. When you come from somewhere else, you want to get comfortable, and helping me do that a lot and to be much better. Of course I’m happy to be here because I love soccer.”

Speaking of the game, Diack is anxious to get involved but knows he’s ready when the time is right. 

“The position I’m playing I can say is the heart of the team. I listen to the coach, how he wants me to play, the way he wants the team to play.”

Lamine knows this new Rapids style is certainly one they have to become accustomed to, but one that can really benefit from a two-way player like himself.

“We have to play forward and also be ready to play safe, not just play attack, attack, attack but also to play safe. In some circumstance, you can lose the ball so you have to be ready for it. My position is similar to that.”

Rapids fans should be eager to see the 23-year-old from Senegal begin to feature for the Burgundy Boys. His physical size looks to be a major advantage in cutting off attacking moves from often-times smaller opposition, but one can see from training he also has a calmness on the ball and in his vision seeing the play in front of him that will lead to some good forward movement in link up play as well.

He has been an unused substitute the last two games as Oli Larraz and Cole Bassett have played in midfield. Armas has said he’s making progress. But at some point, he needs to get on the field if Colorado thinks he’s worth the option to buy at the end of July.

Friendship, familiarity, and fitness: 

As for adapting to Colorado outside of the game and the team activity, Lamine admits he’s a pretty simple person trying to concentrate on the task at hand, but also relying on friends within the team for help getting himself settled.

“Sincerely, I just care about football. Right now, I’m alone here. Maybe in the coming months my family will come? I don’t go out much, I just go home after training.”

That’s also when new teammates and friends lend a hand, two of which were natural allies in French-speaking Moïse Bombito and Kevin Cabral, who were in contact with Lamine even before his arrival in Colorado.

“When I came here they helped me a lot. Before I come to the club, I spoke to them. They told me the good things about the team, about the city.

“Also, Lalas (Abubukar) is my guy. I don’t drive, so after training one of them take me home. I was in a hotel, but now I’m in Cherry Creek so I go with (Rapids Player Welfare Officer) Brian (Reed).”

As for the Centennial State in general, Lamine has had some help in past experience in less-than- desirable weather and temperatures in Europe.

“I know cold, because in Macedonia there’s a lot of snow, we play in the snow,” he says laughing on a warm, sunny Colorado day.

“Here, it’s not bad – in a week since I came you have two days that are cold and the rest is nice. In other countries, you have very bad cold. In the beginning I had trouble with the altitude, breathing was very, very hard. But now, it’s good. Now, I can say I’m ready to play. Don’t worry, the right time will come and you will see me.”

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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