Handball: for Usam, today is already (a little) tomorrow

Entourant le président David Tebib, Kamtchop-Baril, Rebichon, Chauvet, Degouy et Balmossière. MIDI LIBRE – MIKAËL ANISSET

On Monday, January 27, Nîmes president David Tebib held a press conference and outlined the future.

On Monday morning, in the Ford dealership premises, one of the club's partners, Usam Nîmes president David Tebib… stepped up a gear regarding recruitment for the 2025/2026 financial year (see box). ''We're here to talk about the future, the future. There's this notion of passing the torch, being in a new dynamic'', he began.

In the Green team camp, today is already a bit like tomorrow. This summer, the Nîmes house will be almost repainted from top to bottom. No fewer than seven players are at the end of their contracts on June 30, including a few executives.

The ''Historiques'' will not be forgotten

''I have respect for players at the end of their contracts and I don't want to talk about them for the moment, explains Tebib on this subject. The ''Historiques'', Tobie, Rebichon, Sanad are players with whom we will have something special, but this is not the time to talk about it. We told them what we were doing in a very honest way and, for some, for a very long time.''

For the USAM left winger, Julien Rebichon, 36 years old, 20 of which he spent in the “green” position, this Monday conference was perhaps, or probably, his last. ''I haven't said, yet, that I'm stopping, smiles the emblematic captain. Today, I'm going to enjoy the moments, continue to play with my friends, live my passion, share moments on the field, with the public. I'm all in.''

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Hugo Kamtchop-Baril, two years older

''These are not good times when the team is not giving its all, when it is not committed, as was the case for part of the first half of the season, Tebib continues. Remember Toulouse (Nîmes, then relegated, beat – 36-29 – Fenix, at the Parnasse, Editor's note), those moments shared with the public. In this regard, we will need our supporters more than ever. There must be the “infernal” Parnassus + +.''

This communion with the 8th man that Hugo Kamtchop-Baril, at the end of his lease in June 2025, will be able to (finally) live full time. ''I really feel very good here, affirms, fulfilled, the 28-year-old pivot, who has extended the happiness for two seasons, now Usamiste until 2027. The club has shown me its confidence. Injuring your ligaments twice can also be scary for a club. Nîmes has not let me go, I am also grateful for that.''

''Beyond the recruitment of players, there are also qualities of men'', observes the general manager, Jérôme Chauvet

This USAM DNA, well anchored in each one. ''Beyond the recruitment of players, there are also qualities of men, profiles to revitalize the life of the team, observes the general manager, Jérôme Chauvet. The arrival of Arthur Anquetil (left winger) is also a continuation of what we experienced with ‘’Rebiche’’, who was very entertaining. It is very important not to lose this added value.''

A sort of change in continuity, from one season to the next. ''A Clerrmontais has been in the team for over fifteen years (Gallego, Rebichon) and, next season, there would have been none left. So one was needed, with Jean-Loup Faustin (centre half trained at Clermont-l’Hérault), laughs Yann Balmossière. More seriously, as for Tom Poyet, born in the club, it is mainly up to them to take over, even if it is the business of an entire club to go in this direction.''

On the wings, arrivals of right-hander Anquetil and Swedish left-hander Gustaf Wedberg

RECRUITMENT – After having already registered, in mid-November 2024, the arrivals, for three seasons, of the half-center Jean-Loup Faustin, 29, from Dunkirk, and the Bosnian goalkeeper Harun Hodzic, 24, from Chambéry, Usam will also welcome the Chambéry left winger Arthur Anquetil, Nîmes for three seasons starting next season, as well as the Swedish right winger Gustaf Wedberg, 25, currently at Savehof (Sweden), who has signed for the Gard until 2028.

In addition to the extension of pivot Hugo Kamtchop-Baril, note the return from loan of Reyhan Zuzo. The 19-year-old left-back is having a solid season at Caen (Proligue). ''Recruitment is not over. We need, at the very least, a right-back'', concludes Tebib.

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