Siga Tandia
Encyclopedia
Siga Tandia is a French football player of Mali
an descent currently playing for ASJ Soyaux
of the Division 1 Féminine. Tandia plays as a defender
and is a member of the France women's national football team
having made her debut on 28 October 2009 against Estonia
.
of Clichy-sous-Bois
where she played football with her five brothers. She was very adept at not only football, but also judo
having earned a brown belt
as a child. Tandia, who considered herself a tomboy
, initially was hesitant to playing football with girls and preferred playing with boys. Eventually, she re-considered and joined the women's section of local club Tremblay FC, who were playing in the Division d'Honneur Régionale. After almost three years at the club, she ventured to the city of Tours
joining the women's section of Ligue 2
club Tours FC
. The women's section were, ironically, playing in D2 Féminine, the second division of women's football. Over the course of two seasons with the club, Tandia played in 37 total matches scoring two goals.
Following the 2007–08 season, Tandia moved up a division joining D1 Féminine mainstay ASJ Soyaux
. At Soyaux, Tandia appearing in 18 league matches during the 2008–09 season starting them all. Tandia continued her consistent play for the 2009–10 season
appearing in 9 of the 10 league matches contested so far this season.
, held in Belgrade
, Serbia. France finished in 4th place position after losing 1–4 to Great Britain in the bronze medal
match. In October 2009, Tandia was a surprise selection to the national team for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
matches against Iceland
and Estonia
. She received the call up notice via SMS from team manager Bruno Bini
. She made her debut in the Estonia match appearing as a substitute in the 77th minute for Sandrine Soubeyrand
. France won the match 12–0. Tandia returned to the team for another qualification match the following month against Serbia
. She did not appear in the match, which France won 2–0.
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
an descent currently playing for ASJ Soyaux
ASJ Soyaux
ASJ Soyaux are a French football club founded in 1968 and are based in Soyaux. Until 2010 club has always been playing in the top division, when they got relegated to the D2 Féminine.-History:...
of the Division 1 Féminine. Tandia plays as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and is a member of the France women's national football team
France women's national football team
The French women's national football team represents France in international women's football. The team is directed by the French Football Federation and competes as a member of UEFA in various international football tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro, the Summer...
having made her debut on 28 October 2009 against Estonia
Estonia women's national football team
The Estonia women's national team is controlled by the Estonian Football Association. The team is composed of players from the domestic league.-World Cup record:-European Championship record:*1984 to 1991 – Did not enter, was part of Soviet Union...
.
Career
Tandia was born in Paris and grew up in the communeCommunes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Clichy-sous-Bois
Clichy-sous-Bois
Clichy-sous-Bois is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. The vast majority of its population is made up of Muslims of North African heritage . It is located from the centre of Paris.-Geography:The commune has an area of with of woods...
where she played football with her five brothers. She was very adept at not only football, but also judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
having earned a brown belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
as a child. Tandia, who considered herself a tomboy
Tomboy
A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
, initially was hesitant to playing football with girls and preferred playing with boys. Eventually, she re-considered and joined the women's section of local club Tremblay FC, who were playing in the Division d'Honneur Régionale. After almost three years at the club, she ventured to the city of Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
joining the women's section of Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
club Tours FC
Tours FC
Tours Football Club is a French association football club based in Tours, the capital city of the Indre-et-Loire department. The club was formed in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Tours plays its home matches at the Stade de la Vallée du Cher located within...
. The women's section were, ironically, playing in D2 Féminine, the second division of women's football. Over the course of two seasons with the club, Tandia played in 37 total matches scoring two goals.
Following the 2007–08 season, Tandia moved up a division joining D1 Féminine mainstay ASJ Soyaux
ASJ Soyaux
ASJ Soyaux are a French football club founded in 1968 and are based in Soyaux. Until 2010 club has always been playing in the top division, when they got relegated to the D2 Féminine.-History:...
. At Soyaux, Tandia appearing in 18 league matches during the 2008–09 season starting them all. Tandia continued her consistent play for the 2009–10 season
2009–10 French women's football championship
The 2009–10 Division 1 Féminine was the 35th edition of the women's league since its re-establishment by the French Football Federation. The league began on 27 September 2009 and ended on 13 June 2010. Olympique Lyonnais were the defending champions....
appearing in 9 of the 10 league matches contested so far this season.
International career
Tandia had never appeared for France in the youth sections of the women's national team. She did appear for her nation at the 2009 University Games2009 Summer Universiade
The 2009 Summer Universiade, officially known as the XXV Summer Universiade were celebrated in Belgrade, Serbia from 1 July to 12 July 2009. The event has also been organised by a range of co-host cities mostly in Vojvodina , close to Belgrade. It was the largest sporting event ever to be organised...
, held in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Serbia. France finished in 4th place position after losing 1–4 to Great Britain in the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
match. In October 2009, Tandia was a surprise selection to the national team for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
Qualification for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup determines which 15 teams join , the hosts of the 2011 tournament, to play for the Women's World Cup. Europe has 5.5 qualifying berths , Asia 3 berths, North and Central America 2.5 berths, Africa 2 berths, South America 2 berths and Oceania 1 berth...
matches against Iceland
Iceland women's national football team
The Iceland women's national football team represents Iceland in international women's football. It is currently ranked as the 15th best national team in the world by FIFA...
and Estonia
Estonia women's national football team
The Estonia women's national team is controlled by the Estonian Football Association. The team is composed of players from the domestic league.-World Cup record:-European Championship record:*1984 to 1991 – Did not enter, was part of Soviet Union...
. She received the call up notice via SMS from team manager Bruno Bini
Bruno Bini
Bruno Bini is a former French football player and the current manager of the French women's national team having managed the team since February 2007.-External links:*...
. She made her debut in the Estonia match appearing as a substitute in the 77th minute for Sandrine Soubeyrand
Sandrine Soubeyrand
Sandrine Soubeyrand is a French football player who currently plays for French club Juvisy of the Division 1 Féminine. Soubeyrand plays as a midfielder and is a member of the France women's national football team. On 29 October 2009, she earned her record 143rd career international cap in a match...
. France won the match 12–0. Tandia returned to the team for another qualification match the following month against Serbia
Serbia women's national football team
The Serbia women's national football team represents Serbia in international women's football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia...
. She did not appear in the match, which France won 2–0.