ES La Rochelle has long thought to reach National 3, but the administrative imbroglio ended in August with an unfavorable decision from the National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF). The Rochelais must therefore put their work back on the job with, as usual, only one elected to the N3 at the end of the season. With several arrivals of players who have experienced a higher level, even the professional environment (Camara, Cissé, Niakaté, Mbondi, Delguel, Popsé, Karadachki), recruitment is ambitious.
ES La Rochelle has long thought to reach National 3, but the administrative imbroglio ended in August with an unfavorable decision from the National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF). The Rochelais must therefore put their work back on the job with, as usual, only one elected to the N3 at the end of the season. With several arrivals of players who have experienced a higher level, even the professional environment (Camara, Cissé, Niakaté, Mbondi, Delguel, Popsé, Karadachki), recruitment is ambitious.
Saint-Jean-d’Angély made a small revolution in the off-season with the departure of Jérémie Delenne for Chauray, replaced on the bench by Mathieu Robin. The Angériens are among the usual candidates for the podium. The workforce has changed little, with however the arrival of defender Merzaud (Angoulême, R1) and Liassidji. This 34-year-old striker, from Togo, played for Cognac (National 3) with good scoring skills (9 goals last season).
The group has been reshuffled at Royan-Vaux with the departure of seven potential players, including De Souza at ES La Rochelle. But Pascal Laidet announces eight arrivals, including Estival (N3, Jura), Bertrand (Thouars, R1) or Senac (Angoulême, R1) and considers himself “rather satisfied with the recruitment”. FC Rochefort of Martial Mikelbrencis finds the regional elite after twenty years of absence. Several players have arrived (Balade and Davy, back from injury), Perrault (Cabariot), Delaporte (Périgny)… The objective will be to adapt quickly to the demands of R1 to keep their place at the top of the regional pyramid.
2 In R2, there is no shortage of applicants
Pool B will see several ambitious clubs from Charente-Maritime compete to score their ticket for Regional 1. In addition to Périgny, we will find FC Réthais, which now brings together the clubs of Saint-Martin, Sainte-Marie and Bois-Plage. The Islanders have never played at the top of the hierarchy, but President Michel Desfontaines has great ambitions for his club.
Slightly overtaken by Rochefort for accession to R1 last May, AS Cozes leaves with the stated objective of climbing a floor
According to the project that Moncef Azzoune announced upon his arrival at FC Étoile Maritime, in 2021, the climb is the objective. We note the recruitment of Ansley Panel, a striker from FC Poitiers (N3), and several players from Regional 1, such as Fadi Amrouche (Entente sportive Tarentaise). Another flagship recruit, Yaya Diaby, a defensive midfielder from the Portuguese 3rd division. For Dompierre-Sainte-Soulle and Elie Girard, who will discover Regional 2 after three accessions in four seasons, the key will be to adapt to this level of competition with a majority of players from his training.
Slightly overtaken by Rochefort for accession to R1 last May, AS Cozes leaves with the stated objective of climbing a floor. Jamel Kouroghli’s squad has changed little, he will be able to rely on an explosive attack since the bombers Jordan Merzaud and Anthony Herman have remained. In pool D, ES Saintes will be the only maritime team against the Girondins (Le Bouscat, Saint-Emilion, Libourne…). Nicolas Lopez Peralta’s team, which had missed its second part of the 2021-2022 season, has the ambition to play at the top of the rankings, with in particular the arrival of Thomas Bustreau, the former player of Saint-Jean-d ‘Angely.
3 In R3, first save your place
The ten Charente-Maritime teams involved in R3 will initially have the objective of not being sent back to the District level. With three certain relegations, plus eight teams ranked in 9th place, we will have to leave few points on the way. The two promoted (Aunis Avenir and Tonnay-Boutonne) find this level after a departmental parenthesis, and if we had to designate a favorite, we could bring out Cap Aunis, with a workforce that is used to evolving together, around Ludovic Devaux and his striker, Jules Magois, who has already struck several times in the Coupe de France. Just behind, Marennes, Jonzac Saint-Germain, Nieul-sur-Mer, Laleu or Saint-Palais, which is recording the return to the helm of Diego Calderon, will try to play the role of outsiders.
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The women have already resumed competition
The women’s regional championships started on September 10, with three teams from Charente-Maritime playing in R2. Promoted to this level, ES La Rochelle has already struck a blow by winning among the reserves of Châtellerault (0-7). Fabrice Poullain’s daughters continue on their good dynamic of last season, during which they had achieved the hat-trick (championship, cup of 2 Charentes and cup of Charente-Maritime) with an explosive attack.
FC Rochefort also performed well on the first day, with a clear success at home against Oradour-sur-Vayres (4-0). On the other hand, the start of the season was missed on the side of FC Sud 17 – a club resulting from the merger, in 2021, of CS Bussac-Forêt and FC Montendre – which lost heavily on its ground against ES Essynaise (0-10).
From Sunday, at the Le Parco stadium, the Rochelaises will play the first derby of the Charentes, against Angoulême, a team which has also just reached this level. The Angoumoisines lost their first game of the season against Saint-Pantaléon (0-1). FC Rochefort goes to Niort Saint-Florent on Sunday, while FC Sud 17 will have a revenge on Saturday evening on its André Fretel ground in Bussac-Forêt, against Gradignan, beaten last week at home by Talence (0-2). Note that the pyramid of women’s championships could also evolve, with the project to create a national division 3 by 2023, with two pools of 12 teams.
