This evening, at 8 p.m., the Union Tarbes-Lourdes welcomes Les Sables Vendée to the Quai de l’Adour.
This is the opinion of coach Chris Chougaz, “because if Les Sables confirmed their success in the first leg, we would have them in Group B and they would score two successes on us. If, on the other hand, in their last derby game against Challans, Saturday evening, it was the Challanders who avoided Group C, we beat them twice. Hence the importance of this match. We would also have two victories over Toulouse, over Dax. And therefore a good ranking in Group B, in view of the CQFD Play-offs.
This is why in no case it will not be a preparation match for the Union but a championship match.
Revenge, too!
Because, on October 9, the Union had been largely dominated, silted up, by the Vendeans, 80-67, certainly Lesca and Jeanne were not on the floor but it had been dominated in all the compartments of the game. Only Incredule, Prugnières and Jubenot had pulled their heads above water… This evening, precisely, uncertainties remain on Incredule and Jubenot who are recovering from injuries, Prugnières from illness. Which interferes with training. Two matches in 48 hours for Les Sables!
Two trips moreover, which is not the strong point of the Vendeans. This evening at the Quai de l’Adour, against the Union and 48 hours after a derby in Challans where the place in group B will be played, perhaps. The Sablais will have to get their guts out, that’s for sure. And even three matches in five days for the Finn Dolenc who will be in Slovenia on March 1, in Tarbes on March 2 and in Challans on March 5, certain that he will have the rhythm, but, perhaps also fatigue, he who had done so much trouble under the circle at the Union, in the first leg. (20 pts, 18 evaluation).
It should also be noted that the young Malian international pivot in the youth categories; Mohamed Sidibé, has just been loaned by Nancy, pro B, to Les Sables for the end of the NM1 season (19 years old, 2.05m) best youngster in the proB hopeful championship.
Finally, note that the Vendée club cries foul through its “Greek” president Nikolas Seferiadis because Rueil played against them a player, Ismaël Cadiau, with a license from another during the 14th day, match lost by Les Sables and that this fact was not sanctioned despite the protest.
The Union will meet back and forth in Phase 2; Andrezieux, Boulogne, Orchies, Pont-de-Chéruy, Besançon,
Has the coach already viewed these teams? “For the moment I looked at the stats, I found that all the teams are at the same level. There are no big differences in these teams. We will not know until Saturday evening against whom we will play the March 11, so we will have 9 days to prepare…”
