It is not to stroll around Disneyworld that Mélanie Vilmercati must go to Orlando (United States) from May 27 to June 6, but to represent the French team at the 3rd Footgolf World Cup. Sports podiatrist in Fontenay-le-Fleury (Yvelines), the 27-year-old young woman has been practicing this discipline for a year, after having been a football player for a long time at Paris-Saint-Germain and Montigny-le-Bretonneux.
From her discovery on Instagram of this sport still unknown to the general public to her first podiums at the French Championships, Mélanie’s progress has been dazzling. “I like the hybrid side that combines technique and permanent concentration, says the player from Paris Morangis Footgolf (Essonne). It’s almost the same rules as in golf, except that we play with our feet instead of having a club. We are constantly fighting against ourselves. »
4,000 euros to participate in the Mondial
It was during a competition in Turkey, at the end of 2022, that Mélanie learned of her selection for the World Cup with the France team. “A real surprise and a great joy”, remembers the footgolfer.
In full physical preparation for this big meeting, the podiatrist must now manage the financing of her trip to Orlando. He needs to raise around 4,000 euros to pay his registration fees (1,200 euros), but also transport, accommodation and living expenses on site. “Footgolf is still amateur, and the costs are borne by the participants, explains Mélanie Vilmercati. And with the current economic situation, it is difficult. »
By soliciting her relatives and after having set up a Leetchi kitty, the footgolfer has already managed to raise a quarter of the necessary sum. She has since turned to the town hall of Fontenay-le-Fleury to discuss possible financial support, and is also approaching local merchants and entrepreneurs to find sponsors. “It’s complicated, I’m in the middle of a rush and I have a series of meetings, but there’s not much to do,” worries Mélanie.
The French team in search of the double
Due to the high cost of registrations, some invited nations will ultimately not be able to be represented, according to the footgolfer. The race for funding is in full swing, but the sixty or so players from the France team will be able to hold their place, barring a last-minute physical glitch. Crowned by teams at the last World Cup in Morocco in 2018, the Blues hope to retain their title.
“We have our chances, even if Japan, Slovakia and England are very high level opponents”, warns Mélanie Vilmercati. France remains ahead of the rest of the world in the practice of footgolf. The French Footgolf Association (AFFG), affiliated with the French Football Federation for two years, claims more than 4,000 members and around 15,000 occasional players. Some former pro players, like Camel Meriem (Bordeaux, Monaco) or Florent Sinama-Pongolle (Liverpool), are among the discipline’s ambassadors.