At 30, the leader of Rodez basket Aveyron is part of the team promoted to National 3 and which is launching its home campaign this Saturday evening (8 p.m.) against Oullins. He is confident for the future but warns: getting off to a good start is crucial. Maintenance.
How do you feel a few hours before the big return of the National 3 to the Amphitheater of Rodez, this Saturday evening on the occasion of the 2nd day which opposes you to Oullins?
Above all, we are impatient! It’s always nice to start a season at home. And then we can’t wait to see what we can do at this level. We saw last week that we weren’t ridiculous (in Castelnau-le-Lez during the 1st day, loss 68-62 after having led more than half of the match, Editor’s note). Now we have to win and it would be nice if it started this Saturday!
You who have known levels N1, N2, N3; do you feel the current group has been built to be able to fight for its maintenance this season?
Yes, I think we have the weapons for. We saw it on the preparation matches, even if it is to be taken with a grain of salt, and that of last week. Last Saturday, we lost 6 points against a team that finished 3rd last year. Afterwards, we know that a season does not depend on much. Between a successful one because we win the first matches, we gain confidence and a delicate one where we doubt with an unfavorable sequence, sometimes it hangs by a thread.
So, it’s very important to get off to a good start this Saturday…
Yes yes. The sooner we start our season, the better.
What do you think will make the difference this year? What can you rely on?
Already, on the fact of knowing each other well. We kept, more or less, the same team and we added two players. And, in addition, there is one that most players already know by heart (Pierre Frugère, back at the RBA). And then on solidarity, the fact that we get on well with each other. It has to be a strength.
Do you feel, outside the courts, the enthusiasm being there with this return of Rodez to the national level?
Already you are interviewing me, so there is a small effect, yes (laughter). After that, no more than that either. We are not at a level where we see the flags at the windows and company. But there are still small signs that show that yes, returning to the national level, it makes a little talk.
And on a daily basis, in terms of training, intensity, did you feel the cursor rise or finally you were almost already an N3 team last season in the Pre-National?
We are in continuity. In Matija requirements (Sagadin, le coach), each person’s training habits. Afterwards, compared to the middle of last season, when we felt that we were a little easy, we are perhaps slightly more concentrated in training because we have less room for manoeuvre. On the other hand, on the work of Matija, he goes further than last season, both because the level has increased and the means are not the same. All the teams film matches, for example, so it’s easier to work on them.
In Castelnau, you were ahead for a long time before lowering your flag. It’s athletically that it sinned, for lack of rotations too?
Pierre was absent and he is a major player in the team, so yes, lack of rotations. Afterwards, we piqued the guys from Castelnau in their pride and we weren’t necessarily ready for their reaction in the second half. They came back with other intentions, maybe we weren’t too prepared for that. We have to keep it in mind so that it can serve as a lesson.
And from Oullins this Saturday, what do you expect?
To a young team that will put a lot of intensity, run a lot. We know that it is almost a hopeful team of their “one” which evolves in N1. It’s talented. It is up to us to play with our weapons to counter this.
