Lalaïna Nomenjanahary
Quick Facts
Biography
Lalaina Nomenjanahary (born June 1, 1986) is a Malagasy footballer who currently plays for French club Paris FC in France.
Personal life
Nomenjanahary grew up in a poor family in Antananarivo and during his youth he sold toys that he made from recycled tin cans. He is married to Julia and since arriving in France most of his and his wife's family live there as well. Nomenjanahary is sometimes referred to by his childhood nickname Bolida. He is good friends with fellow Malagassy footballer Faneva Andriatsima, and he looks up to Hervé Arsène as a mentor.
Club career
Early on, Nomenjanahary gained attention as a mobile defender. His first club was Ajesaia before he moved to JS Saint-Pierroise on the nearby island of Réunion. On the advice of fellow Malagasy player Hervé Arsène, Nomenjanahary decided to sign for Arsène's former club RC Lens in 2012. After two seasons, Nomenjanahary's impressive performances earned him a new three-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2016. When Lens made their return to the Ligue 1 in the 2014-15 season, Nomenjanahary played 26 of the team's 38 matches, and in the third game of the season he scored the only goal in a shock 1-0 win over Olympique Lyonnais. Despite this, Lens ended the season as the bottom of the table team and were relegated. On 11 May 2016, after four years with Lens, Nomenjanahary was released from the team at the end of his contract. On 9 September 2016 Nomenjanahary joined fellow Ligue 2 team Paris FC on a one-year contract. On 10 October 2016 Nomenjanahary scored his first goals for Paris as he netted a brace in a 7-0 victory over Val d'Europe in the fifth round of the Coupe de France.
International career
As of October 2015 Nomenjanahary has made 26 appearances for Madagascar's national football team and scored 7 goals. He says that it is his dream for Madagascar to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.