World Cup (Q): Jonathan do Marcolino ready for Gabon debut

With Gabon as close as they have ever been to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, Jonathan do Marcolino is among the new recruits in the Panthers squad after significant efforts to freshen up the player pool in an experienced team. A player who could potentially make his Panthers debut in the upcoming qualification playoff from the African region is Do Marcolino following his first call-up.

The Panthers will meet Nigeria on Thursday in the semifinal from the Second Round of qualifying from the African region hosted by Morocco, where the winner of the four-team playoff also involving DR Congo and Cameroon will advance to the inter-continental playoff next March in Mexico.

For the 19-year-old left back, who is on loan with French third tier side FC Bourg-Péronnas from Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais, he is ready for anything that comes. “I am not surprised (at being called) because I’m a competitor and I wanted to represent my country. So I’m happy to honor my first call-up to the Gabonese national team,” do Marcolino said in a brief interview with Gabonese publication L’Union.

“This is a special moment for me, because coming to the national team for the first time to represent my country Gabon for the World Cup qualifying matches is an exceptional moment that will forever be etched in my memory.”

The young defender is notably the nephew of Fabrice, a former national team striker who has been charged with leading the national team’s efforts to recruit dual national players from the country’s diaspora.

Fabrice’s son, another striker named Alan, has already featured in a handful of matches for the Panthers but now Jonathan has been recruited as a potential contributor for years to come. In addition, Alan’s other son Henrick continues to develop in the academy of Stade Rennais and appears likely to be a future member of the Panthers if he continues on his course.

But after previously featuring for the French under-16 national team, Jonathan was direct when asked by L’Union about where his allegiances lie considering he was born in France:

“I have no emotional conflict. Certainly, I was born in France and in Lens, but my father and mother are both Gabonese. So I am first and foremost Gabonese by blood.”

Jonathan described himself as a “rigorous defender” who enjoys defensive duels when asked about his greatest strength as a player. While he is unlikely to be called into action against Nigeria, Jonathan is the latest recruit in a group of players who hope to contribute after Panthers stars like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Denis Bouanga, Guelor Kanga and Bruno Ecuele Manga retire from the national team.