Akhenaton, the leader of the Marseille group IAM, was the guest of Michel Denisot on Europe 1. He told of his boundless admiration for two legendary sportsmen: the boxer Mohamed Ali, who was one of his models, and the footballer Zinédine Zidane, like him from the Marseille city.

INTERVIEW

Akhenaton, the iconic leader of the Marseille group IAM, is also a big fan of sports.

The rapper, invited Saturday by Michel Denisot on Europe 1, expressed his admiration for two of the greatest sportsmen of recent decades: Mohamed Ali and Zinédine Zidane.

"There are so many people who have influenced me. I will quote one that is very important: Mohamed Ali. I think he was full of doubts and full of fears, like me at the start," Akhenaton said, who sees in the American boxer a model which goes far beyond the framework of sport. 

Mohamed Ali, an example for the young Akhenaton

Because in his youth, Akhenaton was sorely lacking in self-confidence, especially at school.

And it was in Mohamed Ali, who died in 2016 at the age of 74, that he found an example.

"I imitated his technique of self-persuasion. When I was little I was very afraid to go to the board. My phobia was that the teacher would ask me to go do the exercises on the board. . My head was spinning, mental confusion and I think I had to do a lot of work on myself doing this job (as a rapper), "he says. 

"Mohamed Ali was an example in his way of speaking, his way of approaching life, his empathy towards others. He had to face his own demons quite often while entering the ring", continued the rapper, who also touted the boxer's verb, as famous for his punches as his punchlines.

"He was a champion of dodging and also of words. Mohamed Ali's valves are something". 

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Zidane "brought a lot of joy to the country"

Akhenaton is also and above all a big fan of football and OM.

And like any good self-respecting Marseillais, he fell in love with the darling of Marseille: Zinédine Zidane.

"I am lucky to be friends with his big brother, Nono, and I knew him very young. He is someone who brought a lot of joy to the country, who made others dream of us. tomorrows ", remembers the leader of IAM, who vibrated in front of the exploits of Zizou in team of France and in its various clubs.

"He also brought a lot of joy to big, very famous clubs around the world, starting with Real Madrid, and even before to Juventus," he added. 

But beyond Zidane, Akhenaton is a real football madman.

"If I went on football icons, we would record all day," he laughs.

"Football is something that is magical. With the first confinement, the first thing I complained about was the fact that there was no football on TV. The matches allow me to forget it, I have this feeling of dropping out. I perceive football as a real spectacle and entertainment. "

In short, a pure Marseillais.