Ajorque: “I believe in fate”

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It was a flying start for Ludovic Ajorque at 1. FSV Mainz 05, with French striker signed his contract on the 24th January, just one day before the home game against Borussia Dortmund, and then everything started. First, was the unlucky defeat to BVB, three days later the victory at home against VfL Bochum, in which the 28-year-old was already in the starting eleven for the first time. Ajorque also started in the defeats against FC Bayern in the DFB-Pokal and recently at Union Berlin. He has four games in eleven days under his belt, and now has time to catch his breath and become part of Mainz.

“I’ve arrived at a difficult time, with lots of games and little training. It isn’t easy when you don’t know the team and the style of play very well, but I am giving it my all and trying to perform,” said Ajorque, summing up his first two weeks at Mainz and looking ahead to the challenges to come. Nevertheless, the striker was not surprised to be playing so much and so quickly, after all, he had been in full training in Strasbourg. “I spoke with the coach and knew that two double gameweeks were coming up.” The Frenchman was already aware before the transfer that he would not get a long period to acclimatise before being out there in red and white.

From an island upbringing to professional football

Ajorque was born and raised on Réunion, a French overseas region in the Indian Ocean. He played there for a long time at amateur level, before making the jump into the professional game. “It’s difficult to leave Réunion and become a professional footballer,” explained Ajorque, who left the island at 18 for mainland France. “Of course, there were times when I wanted to go back home and leave the professional game. But, I didn’t give up on myself, kept working hard and went my own way,” said Ajorque about the first years of his career. In his first year in the third division, the striker impressed and was able to work his way all the way up into Ligue 1.

There were times when I wanted to go back home and leave the professional game.

The striker, however, doesn’t see growing up on the island as a disadvantage, even though there is no professional football there. During the week, he trained in a selected squad between the ages of 12 and 14, and played with his club at amateur level on the weekends. “We have a lot of talent in Réunion,” said Ajorque, before explaining that if you come from Réunion, you have to be much better than the players from mainland France to get a chance in professional football. Ajorque was given that chance at Angers, before moving to Racing Strasbourg in 2018 after several loan spells.

FSV’s new signing Ludovic Ajorque is a threat both in the air and with the ball at his feet.

Reunited in the Bundesliga

The Frenchman played at Strasbourg for several years with his compatriot Anthony Caci, who moved to Mainz last summer. Of course, ‘Titi’, as the defender is known in the team, was his first contact when the move to FSV was about to happen. “He told me that it is a family club with a great team spirit. In the end, that was also a reason why I chose Mainz,” reported the newcomer. In Ligue 1, the attacker had scored 46 goals in 135 games and assisted 17. Now, he has followed Caci to the Bundesliga.

He told me that it is a family club with a great team spirit.

The striker was already considering a move to Germany in the summer, but his transfer to Hertha BSC fell through as the clubs failed to reach an agreement, reported Ajorque. “I believe in fate, the move to Hertha was not meant to be. Now, I am happy to be in Mainz.” He wants to continue to progress there, be successful with FSV and score a lot of goals.

Get to know the team better

Scoring goals is not the be all and end all for an attacker in France, according to Ajorque. “They value it when a striker can play in his teammates,” explained the Frenchman, who has already in Mainz opted to play in a better-placed teammates a few times rather than take a shot himself. “On the other hand, I think that in Germany people like it when a striker is more egoistic and sticks to scoring. Maybe that will happen to me in the future,” laughed Ajorque, who has always been asked about his generous behaviour in front of goal.

Karim Onisiwo praised the valuable work of his strike-partner after the 5-2 win against VfL Bochum, where Ajorque worked to draw attention away from the Austrian. “Obviously, it is a compliment to hear from the main striker that he has benefited from playing with me. I hope that we can use this time now to develop our game together. That goes not just for Karim, but also for everyone else as well,” said the attacker.

Obviously, it is a compliment to hear from the main striker that he has benefited from playing with me.

Overall, Ajorque said that the intensity in the Bundesliga is higher than in Ligue 1 and is more end to end, meaning there is more space, while in France compactness is more important. Intensity is also high in training sessions, which he noticed in his first training session with his new teammates shortly after the contract signing, which was the final session before the game against Dortmund. This Tuesday, the striker took part in his “first normal training session” with the team after two consecutive double gameweeks.

In the game against VfL Bochum, his interplay with Onisiwo was already working well. This understanding should get even better in the future.

Strong in the air and technically skilled

Standing at 1.96 m, Ajorque naturally has a certain aerial presence. According to him using this also depends on the team: “Last season, I scored more headed goals, but I also enjoy scoring with my feet.” The striker is also adept with the ball at his feet, as he has shown in his first appearances for the Zerofivers. “I don’t think that my size puts me at a disadvantage, quite the opposite. Certain types of players are always sought after; every team wants a big man up top,” knows the Frenchman, who also enjoys dropping in and being involved in the game rather than just waiting for long balls.

“I have always played in teams that have looked to play, which have played out it short from the back,” explained Ajorque, while also knowing that there are games where you have to go long sometimes. “I am there for both of these,” continued the striker, who received the nickname ‘the volcano bomber’ in Straßburg. “In Réunion, there is a volcano and after the season where I scored so many goals for Racing I was given that nickname because I almost set the fans on fire,” explained Ajorque over the origins of his nickname.

Learnt from his father

Football runs in the family with Ajorque, whose father once played for Lens, before ending his career after the birth of his son and returning to Réunion. As a former defender, there was a lot that his son as a striker could learn from him. “He was able to give me tips about what you need to do as a striker, even if as a kid you didn’t always want to hear that,” said the 28-year-old grinning, before continuing. “As I got older, it got better. Even today, we still talk after games and speak regularly about my performances.”

He was able to give me tips about what you need to do as a striker, even if as a kid you didn’t always want to hear that. 

His wife and son are still currently commuting from Strasbourg to Mainz, as his three-year-old currently still goes to nursery in France. “As soon as I have a fixed placed to live, they will obviously join me,” reported Ajorque.

Important home game against Augsburg

After the first “normal” week of training without a midweek game, the season continues with the Fastnacht game against FC Augsburg on Saturday. Ajorque knows that this will be a very important game, especially looking at the table, as the against Bochum was. “We definitely want to win to stay the distance. To do that, we have to work well during the week,” said the Frenchman.

There were times when I wanted to go back home and leave the professional game.

The striker, however, doesn’t see growing up on the island as a disadvantage, even though there is no professional football there. During the week, he trained in a selected squad between the ages of 12 and 14, and played with his club at amateur level on the weekends. “We have a lot of talent in Réunion,” said Ajorque, before explaining that if you come from Réunion, you have to be much better than the players from mainland France to get a chance in professional football. Ajorque was given that chance at Angers, before moving to Racing Strasbourg in 2018 after several loan spells.

Reunited in the Bundesliga

The Frenchman played at Strasbourg for several years with his compatriot Anthony Caci, who moved to Mainz last summer. Of course, ‘Titi’, as the defender is known in the team, was his first contact when the move to FSV was about to happen. “He told me that it is a family club with a great team spirit. In the end, that was also a reason why I chose Mainz,” reported the newcomer. In Ligue 1, the attacker had scored 46 goals in 135 games and assisted 17. Now, he has followed Caci to the Bundesliga.

He told me that it is a family club with a great team spirit.

The striker was already considering a move to Germany in the summer, but his transfer to Hertha BSC fell through as the clubs failed to reach an agreement, reported Ajorque. “I believe in fate, the move to Hertha was not meant to be. Now, I am happy to be in Mainz.” He wants to continue to progress there, be successful with FSV and score a lot of goals.

Get to know the team better

Scoring goals is not the be all and end all for an attacker in France, according to Ajorque. “They value it when a striker can play in his teammates,” explained the Frenchman, who has already in Mainz opted to play in a better-placed teammates a few times rather than take a shot himself. “On the other hand, I think that in Germany people like it when a striker is more egoistic and sticks to scoring. Maybe that will happen to me in the future,” laughed Ajorque, who has always been asked about his generous behaviour in front of goal.

Karim Onisiwo praised the valuable work of his strike-partner after the 5-2 win against VfL Bochum, where Ajorque worked to draw attention away from the Austrian. “Obviously, it is a compliment to hear from the main striker that he has benefited from playing with me. I hope that we can use this time now to develop our game together. That goes not just for Karim, but also for everyone else as well,” said the attacker.

Obviously, it is a compliment to hear from the main striker that he has benefited from playing with me.

Overall, Ajorque said that the intensity in the Bundesliga is higher than in Ligue 1 and is more end to end, meaning there is more space, while in France compactness is more important. Intensity is also high in training sessions, which he noticed in his first training session with his new teammates shortly after the contract signing, which was the final session before the game against Dortmund. This Tuesday, the striker took part in his “first normal training session” with the team after two consecutive double gameweeks.

Strong in the air and technically skilled

Standing at 1.96 m, Ajorque naturally has a certain aerial presence. According to him using this also depends on the team: “Last season, I scored more headed goals, but I also enjoy scoring with my feet.” The striker is also adept with the ball at his feet, as he has shown in his first appearances for the Zerofivers. “I don’t think that my size puts me at a disadvantage, quite the opposite. Certain types of players are always sought after; every team wants a big man up top,” knows the Frenchman, who also enjoys dropping in and being involved in the game rather than just waiting for long balls.

“I have always played in teams that have looked to play, which have played out it short from the back,” explained Ajorque, while also knowing that there are games where you have to go long sometimes. “I am there for both of these,” continued the striker, who received the nickname ‘the volcano bomber’ in Straßburg. “In Réunion, there is a volcano and after the season where I scored so many goals for Racing I was given that nickname because I almost set the fans on fire,” explained Ajorque over the origins of his nickname.

Learnt from his father

Football runs in the family with Ajorque, whose father once played for Lens, before ending his career after the birth of his son and returning to Réunion. As a former defender, there was a lot that his son as a striker could learn from him. “He was able to give me tips about what you need to do as a striker, even if as a kid you didn’t always want to hear that,” said the 28-year-old grinning, before continuing. “As I got older, it got better. Even today, we still talk after games and speak regularly about my performances.”

He was able to give me tips about what you need to do as a striker, even if as a kid you didn’t always want to hear that. 

His wife and son are still currently commuting from Strasbourg to Mainz, as his three-year-old currently still goes to nursery in France. “As soon as I have a fixed placed to live, they will obviously join me,” reported Ajorque.

Important home game against Augsburg

After the first “normal” week of training without a midweek game, the season continues with the Fastnacht game against FC Augsburg on Saturday. Ajorque knows that this will be a very important game, especially looking at the table, as the against Bochum was. “We definitely want to win to stay the distance. To do that, we have to work well during the week,” said the Frenchman.

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Ajorque: “I believe in fate”

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