Football: against Fréjus Saint-Raphaël and in 2025, Nîmes Olympique wants to find its lucky star again

Diouf et Mendy suspendus contre Nancy, Paviot (à gauche) et Iafrate seront testés en charnière. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

For their first match of the year, the Crocos welcome Étoile Fréjus/Saint-Raphaël (N2) in a friendly, Saturday January 4th behind closed doors. They hope to find success as soon as possible.

Before Christmas, we left the Crocos who were coughing, figuratively speaking, after two disappointing draws (1-1 at Paris Atletico and 0-0 against Le Mans) and three defeats, a series in progress. After New Year's Day, we found the Crocos who are coughing, literally speaking.

At the end of training, this Friday at La Bastide, some “coughed up their lungs”. Labonne, Lemaangr, Marcel… on the field, many Nîmes players were not in their best shape. ““Douk” (ansy) is struggling to come back, Mathis (Picouleau) is not far from 40 fever, Salim (Akkal) spent his holidays in bed, adds their coach Adil Hermach, also convalescent. We are not spared but we exchange with a lot of other National clubs, and there are a lot of sick people everywhere…”

Before receiving the leader Nancy, a rehearsal, but not a general one

As a result, today's friendly match against Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël, which was to serve as a general rehearsal before receiving the leader Nancy (Friday 10 to 7:30 p.m.), will be a rehearsal, but not a dress rehearsal.

Before the last preparation match, at the end of November, against Saint-Priest (7th in group A of National 2), coach Hermach had asked his players “to score as many goals as possible and not to concede any”. A wish half-fulfilled with a small 1-0 victory signed by Akkal. This time, facing the 4th in the same group who aspire to return to the third national level, given the state of the Gard troops, it will be a question of “finding playing time before the resumption of the competition, nothing else, quite simply. The score will be anecdotal”.

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The staff will nevertheless be very attentive to the offensive behavior of its team, which approaches the second part of the season with the dunce's cap of the worst attack in the championship.

Adil Hermach: “They know that they have been singled out by us, by you, by their families…”

“There aren't many people at La Bastide, and I can count the number of people who watch the sessions: you're there, and you see that when we work in front of goal, the guys put in a lot of goodwill. I'm happy with the state of mind the players are giving off. They know that it came down to very little (these last few months), they know that they've been singled out by us, by you, by their families, by their friends, by everyone, explains Adil Hermach. We know where the problem with Nîmes Olympique is. I haven't gone to see a witch doctor to score more, I don't have any lucky charms. We're going to do a bit more, develop the finishing aspect in other players… we're looking for scorers. I hope it's going well rotate.”

Score more with fewer attackers

If it works, it will be without Ali Abdallah (returned to Strasbourg), Badu or Osei, three attackers who have just left the Nîmes ship. No replacement planned for the moment. “You know the current context, I'm not counting on anyone else for the moment”, confirms the coach.

Except for Ahmedine Daoudi (24 years old on January 8), who plays in the reserves after having spent time as a professional in Algeria (Belouizdad, D1) and Beaucaire. “I met him there, remembers the technician. He's a boy full of qualities, surely the most gifted I've seen in Beaucaire, but he has his ups and downs. He did the recovery with us, and he has to go and find his thing.“

In 2025, almost all the Crocodiles will have to go “get their thing”. And find their lucky star, against EFC Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël or another, with or without marabout.

Behind the scenes of the Crocodiles

The team. Subject to current illnesses, NO could start with the following eleven: Simon – Labonne, Iafrate, Paviot, Beneddine – Akkal, Bouaoune, Mexique, Marcel – Camara, Abdeldjelil. Kick-off at 2:30 p.m. at the Antonins, behind closed doors.

The absentees. Iafrate-Paviot in the balance? Yes, in order to prepare for the reception of Nancy, for which Mendy and Diouf will be suspended. Klitim, 19, defender of the reserve team, at the club since the U14s, trained with the pros. Furthermore, Cozzella, Picouleau, Doukansy and Amara are out this afternoon.

The diploma. Two options are available to Adil Hermach at the start of 2025: submit a VAE (validation of acquired experience) file at the end of January, and/or apply for the next BEPF (professional football coach certificate) training session in March. As a reminder, NO pays a fine of 7,500 euros per match for its unqualified coach.