Stephen Yepmo Returns to France and Thonon Black Panthers

AFI | American Football | 11/26/2016

Running back Stephen Yepmo has returned to the Thonon-les-Bains Black Panthers in France after spending one year with Switzerland’s Geneva Seahawks.

Yepmo (5’8″, 215 lb) was one of the French league’s leading rushers for many years and winner of numerous awards. He was also the featured back on France’s national team. Yepmo played for the Thonon-les-Bains in both 2013 and 2014 winning back to back French championships and helped the team reach the French final again in 2015. He was also a key figure in helping France to a third place finish at the 2014 European Championships.

In 2015, Yepmo starred for France in the IFAF World Championships where France finished fourth behind the United States, Japan and Mexico.

American Football International chatted with Yepmo about his return to the Black Panthers.

AFI: Can you tell us a little bit about how you came to re-sign with Thonon?

Yepmo: Since I left the club last year, I stayed in touch with the players and the staff members because I know I will come back when my professional situation allowed me. That’s why this fall I approached the Black Panthers to learn about their plans for this season and I was very attracted by their performance program for high-level athletes. I’m also happy that my return to Thonon be appreciated by the staff and the team. So it’s natural that I have re-signed with the Black Panthers for this new season.

AFI: What do you think you can bring to the Black Panthers in 2017?

Yepmo: The Black Panthers have already proved last year that it was a new team with a lot of talented young players. I hope that I can bring them the experience I gained with the Black Panthers and the national team in recent years.

Highlights of Stephen Yepmo’s 2014 season with the Black Panthers.

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