7:33pm Thursday 17th December 2009
A FULL house doesn’t quite describe what Lecsinel Jean Francois’ town centre home will look like over Christmas.
The Swindon Town left back will be welcoming eight family members from his family home in Paris over the next few days.
His part Haitian, part French Guianian family, who will be celebrating the holidays with him include his mum, dad, two sisters, two nieces and one nephew. It will be their first Christmas in the UK.
And according to him it was the English tradition of football on Boxing Day that led to them to make the journey.
“I can’t say that I like the idea of playing football on Boxing Day - but its worked out well because my family are coming over because I can’t go there,” said the Haiti International.
“In France we get 15 days off at Christmas.”
This year Boxing Day will see Lecsinel, and the rest of the club, travelling to Charlton.
However, he does not yet know whether his family will make the journey to South London too.
The 23-year-old said: “On Christmas Day we will eat a huge meal with chicken or turkey with potatoes and fried rice made by my mother.
“That’s similar to what we ate in France – but it’s very different to what we used to celebrate with in the Caribbean – back then we ate Creole food like rice with black beans and pork.
“But because I have been in five countries since childhood – Haiti, French Guiana, France, Scotland and England – I am not sure where home is anymore.
“In terms of International football though – even if I played for the under-23 Haiti-team – I am most interested in playing for France. My football heroes play there, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. In England my favourite footballer is John Terry.”
“I am very excited about my family’s trip here, it will be a lot of fun, I miss my family a lot and when we get back together again it is like old times, loud and full of food and fun.”
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