It’s okay, I knew it was going to be a long protocol and I’m moving forward slowly, but surely. Since the beginning of this year, I have taken up some basketball. It feels good to touch the ball and it’s a great step forward because I feel like I’ve been in pre-season since this summer: I’ve only done athletics (laughs). Now, we’re going to try to ramp up gradually…
It’s okay, I knew it was going to be a long protocol and I’m moving forward slowly, but surely. Since the beginning of this year, I have taken up some basketball. It feels good to touch the ball and it’s a great step forward because I feel like I’ve been in pre-season since this summer: I’ve only done athletics (laughs). Now, we’re going to try to ramp up gradually, but I can’t wait to get back to it.
What program are you currently following?
I have a rehab program in strength training, healing, and I’ve started individual work with Shona (Thorburn, the assistant coach), every other day. We’ll see how my knee reacts to that, but for now, it’s positive.
“It was very frustrating to take one step forward, then two back,” explains Clarince Djaldi-Tabdi (center) between Julie Barennes (left) and Céline Dumerc.
Matthew Sartre
“I didn’t expect to miss so many games this season because I had taken the summer to heal myself”
How did you react when you were diagnosed with this injury, which kept you away from the field for many months?
It was not easy, I did not expect to miss so many games this season because I had just taken the summer to heal myself. It was very frustrating to take one step forward, then two steps back… I was determined to resume with this new team, to discover the Euroleague. Missing all that is disappointing but it is one of the hazards for top athletes.
Have you ever had problems with this knee?
It happened this summer, I never had any problems with that knee but it must have compensated for the problems I had with the other one. Now that on the left it’s ok, my body said: “Let’s move on to the other…” After that, I hope everything will be fine.
Clarince Djaldi-Tabdi was able to play a few warm-up matches at the start of the season.
Philippe Salvat/ “SOUTH WEST”
How was your integration when you arrived at a new club and you were quickly injured?
It wasn’t that hard to fit in with the personality of the girls here and with my personality. I was able to train a little at the start of the season and there are girls with whom I had already played. Everyone accompanied me and I was well surrounded.
What was your role, especially when the team had a very complicated start to the season?
I tried to bring good humor, my personality, to encourage the girls and to do what I could on the side, by being present as best as possible.
During his injury: “I tried to bring good humor, my personality and to encourage the girls”, recalls Clarince Djaldi-Tabdi, here during the recovery evening, at the CCI of Landes.
Philippe Salvat/ “SOUTH WEST”
“I want to go step by step, not to go too fast. Because the goal is to come back once and for all”
How do you live the matches from the bench?
I live them thoroughly! The first Euroleague match, even though I wasn’t playing, I was very happy because the room here is incredible. I was told that Euroleague games were intense and I felt it from the start. I was happy to be able to experience that, even on the side.
Have you set a recovery date?
For the moment no, because I want to go step by step, not to go too fast. The goal is to come back once and for all. If it’s the earliest, so much the better, but I’ll take the time it takes.
Do you still hope to be back before the end of the Euroleague (March 1)?
I hope, I will do what is necessary. If that happens, I’ll be lucky, otherwise it just wasn’t my time.
To discover it, you will have to qualify again for next season…
Exactly ! This will bring additional motivation for the end of the season (laughs).
