Handball: Is a warned Usam worth two ?

Ici aux côtés du coach des gardiens, Gaby Bourguignon, le président David Tebib, toujours bien présent. MIDI LIBRE – MIKAËL ANISSET

Après une première partie de saison de Starligue complexe, Nîmes (8e) espère regarder vers le haut.

The president of Usam Nîmes David Tebib, who almost never misses a single training session during the week, could not miss this handball resumption on Monday afternoon at Parnasse (see box). ''I'm relaxed, as I've always been…'', he says, relaxed and smiling.

Taking advantage of the moment to send his wishes: ''I wish a happy new year and good health to all the readers of Midi Libre and to all the supporters of the Green Team to whom I invite you on February 14, against Chartres, for the resumption of the Starligue, with the return of their favorite team.''

Parnasse must become ''Infernal'' again

This Usam which has long worried its public, 15th and relegated on the evening of the 11th day and a 29-33 defeat at Parnasse, against Saint-Raphaël. It was then the seventh defeat in eight outings.

This eighth man who had to wait 240 minutes, the time of four defeats in a row at home, before seeing his Green team rise from its ashes… against Fénix Toulouse (36-29, 12th day).

''We would have liked the championship to continue and not stop during the break, underlines the president Tebib, because we finished like a cannonball (7 points out of 8 in the last 4 matches; 2nd in Starligue, with the MHB and behind Nantes, over the period, Editor's note).''

''What we did in the first half taught us a lesson,'' says Acquevillo

This break, however, was essential for the entire group. ''Yes, we were off to a good start, but the break was also psychological, underlines assistant coach Yann Balmossière. We had been on deck since July 15.''

During this two-week break, some took the opportunity to see the country… or return home, depending on your point of view. Like Jean-Jacques Acquevillo, in Martinique. ''I left straight away, the day after Limoges, laughs the Nîmes left-back, best Usamiste in the first half. We went to recharge our batteries mentally and physically. It feels good.''

''This team has proven that it has character'', notes the assistant, Yann Balmossière

“Jiji” is sharp –''It's good, I lost weight (103 kg). We have to get the machine going and start again stronger (sic)'' – and well aware that Usam (8th, 13 points) must not repeat the mistakes of the past: ''What we did in the first part served as a lesson to us. We also have to prepare properly because some matches, where we dominated, we lost them.''

The young USAM guard with Rémi Peyre shooting, under the eyes of Vincent and Derisbourg. MIDI LIBRE – MIKAËL ANISSET

''We realized what we had to do to exist in a match, Balmossière analyzes. After a while, we didn't put in the basics, the foundations and the aggressiveness that we must have in defense. We faced a difficult period, with six defeats in a row, but this team proved that it had character and raised its head well.''

The top 6 within reach of the ball

The hardest part is not getting there but confirming, so everything remains to be done for a Nîmes team that is 5 points ahead of the red zone and, above all, only 5 behind the top 5 (Saint-Raphaël).''To stay in a decent season, we gave ourselves the right to stick to a peloton that will play the top 6 (at 1 point)'', notes Tebib.

History, also, that this group at the end of the cycle (7 players at the end of their contract, in June 2025, including Rebichon, Tobie, Sanad…) offers itself a happy ending. ''Between us, we often talk about it. These will be the last trips'', concludes Acquevillo, under contract until 2026.

Three preparation tournaments on the program

AGENDA – Fourteen professional players, including Brazilian fullback Costa Da Silva, recovered from a thumb injury, were present Monday afternoon at Parnasse – crossfit in the morning –, plus right winger Guigues, from the training center. The only absentees: Abdelhak (ankle, out three months), Pardin (knee) and Sanad (selection). Sissoko has reappeared, working on the fringes of the group.

Until the official resumption on February 14, Usam will play three tournaments. From January 17 to 19 in Châtellerault, as part of the International Meetings, against Irun (Spain) and Porto (Portugal).

From January 24 to 26 in Chambéry for the Tournoi des Alpes with Chambé, Saint-Raphaël and Schaffausen (Switzerland). On January 30 and 31 in Saint-Etienne for the Tournoi hand Élite 42 with Aix, Istres and Tremblay.