Caleb Francis
Encyclopedia
Caleb Francis is a Mauritian
-Norwegian
retired football midfielder. He was born in Mauritius
, and spent most of his career at Kongsvinger
, Bryne and Ull/Kisa
. After retiring as an active player he has worked as both football commentator and coach.
, and came to Norway in the mid-1970s. He joined Kongsvinger IL
from Lillehammer FK ahead of the 1988 season, and played his debut match in the Norwegian Premier League
against Vålerenga Fotball. However, his performance was hampered by racist abuse
from some of Vålerenga's supporters. In addition to verbal abuse, some supporters tossed banana
s at Francis to make allusions to monkeys. Due to the psychological effect Francis did not play well, and was substituted. He played only one more match before giving up top-tier football. He also stayed away from school. However, Kongsvinger IL people persuaded him to continue his career, and he played for Fremad while doing his compulsory military service at Gardermoen
.
He rejoined Kongsvinger IL in 1990, and made his breakthrough in the first team in 1991. He was a regular first-team player more or less until 1995. His contract was not renewed and he went to Bryne FK. In 1998 he became the top goalscorer in Norway's second highest league, but was still not given a new contract. He rejoined Kongsvinger. In the summer of 2000 he left to work as a football commentator in Eurosport
. He also signed a contract with Ullensaker/Kisa IL
.
In 2002 he was hired as a commentator for Canal + together with Claus Eftevaag. He left Ullensaker/Kisa after the season, joined Larvik Fotball
and lived in a flat in Stavern
. He also worked as a teacher. However, he soon lost his job, and broke a leg in a Larvik match in September. On New Year's Eve
, his house burned down while he was away. Frustrated, he announced his probable retirement from football, but was hired as a commentator in TV 2
one week after losing his house. He stayed in TV 2 for several years.
He also began a coaching career. He first trained the junior team of Larvik
-based club Halsen IF for two years. Ahead of the 2007 season he was hired as joint head coach (with Richard Berg) of IL Runar
. He left in late 2008 after steering the club to promotion.
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
-Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
retired football midfielder. He was born in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, and spent most of his career at Kongsvinger
Kongsvinger IL
Kongsvinger Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from the city of Kongsvinger in Hedmark, founded in 1892. It is known chiefly for its football team for men, but also does or have done well in other sports.-Athletics:...
, Bryne and Ull/Kisa
Ullensaker/Kisa IL
Ullensaker/Kisa IL is a Norwegian sports club from Jessheim in Ullensaker. Founded in 1894, it has sections for association football, team handball and athletics....
. After retiring as an active player he has worked as both football commentator and coach.
Career
He hails from MauritiusMauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, and came to Norway in the mid-1970s. He joined Kongsvinger IL
Kongsvinger IL
Kongsvinger Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from the city of Kongsvinger in Hedmark, founded in 1892. It is known chiefly for its football team for men, but also does or have done well in other sports.-Athletics:...
from Lillehammer FK ahead of the 1988 season, and played his debut match in the Norwegian Premier League
Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
against Vålerenga Fotball. However, his performance was hampered by racist abuse
Racism in association football
Racism in association football is the abuse of players, officials and fans because of their skin colour, nationality, religion or ethnicity. Some may be targeted because of their association with an opposing team...
from some of Vålerenga's supporters. In addition to verbal abuse, some supporters tossed banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s at Francis to make allusions to monkeys. Due to the psychological effect Francis did not play well, and was substituted. He played only one more match before giving up top-tier football. He also stayed away from school. However, Kongsvinger IL people persuaded him to continue his career, and he played for Fremad while doing his compulsory military service at Gardermoen
Gardermoen
Gardermoen may refer to:* Gardermoen, Norway* Oslo Airport, Gardermoen* Gardermoen Air Station* Gardermoen Line* Gardermoen Station...
.
He rejoined Kongsvinger IL in 1990, and made his breakthrough in the first team in 1991. He was a regular first-team player more or less until 1995. His contract was not renewed and he went to Bryne FK. In 1998 he became the top goalscorer in Norway's second highest league, but was still not given a new contract. He rejoined Kongsvinger. In the summer of 2000 he left to work as a football commentator in Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
. He also signed a contract with Ullensaker/Kisa IL
Ullensaker/Kisa IL
Ullensaker/Kisa IL is a Norwegian sports club from Jessheim in Ullensaker. Founded in 1894, it has sections for association football, team handball and athletics....
.
In 2002 he was hired as a commentator for Canal + together with Claus Eftevaag. He left Ullensaker/Kisa after the season, joined Larvik Fotball
Larvik Fotball
Larvik Fotball was a Norwegian association football club from Larvik. It existed from late 1999 to early 2004, and both succeeded and was succeeded by IF Fram. A cooperation between several Larvik-based clubs, it experienced two straight promotions to the Norwegian Second Division and played there...
and lived in a flat in Stavern
Stavern
Stavern is a small Norwegian town located in the municipality of Larvik, south of the city of Larvik in Vestfold.The port and naval base of Stavern was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Even though it was an important port it was first given its status as a town July 1, 1942...
. He also worked as a teacher. However, he soon lost his job, and broke a leg in a Larvik match in September. On New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, his house burned down while he was away. Frustrated, he announced his probable retirement from football, but was hired as a commentator in TV 2
TV 2 (Norway)
TV 2 is the largest commercial television station in Norway. Over 30% of the time Norwegians spend watching TV is spent watching TV 2. The station has 65% of the market for TV commercials in Norway....
one week after losing his house. He stayed in TV 2 for several years.
He also began a coaching career. He first trained the junior team of Larvik
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
-based club Halsen IF for two years. Ahead of the 2007 season he was hired as joint head coach (with Richard Berg) of IL Runar
IL Runar
Idrettslaget Runar is a Norwegian sports club from Haukerød in Sandefjord. It has sections for athletics, team handball, football and cross country skiing....
. He left in late 2008 after steering the club to promotion.