The Ruthénois, sure to find the N3 in September, are now aiming to conquer the honorary title of champion of Occitania, while preparing for next season.
Around 800 people, almost all of Aveyron basketball to warm up the Ginette-Mazel gymnasium, before the dreamed final… Saturday, against Cugnaux (77-64), the RBA validated its rise to National 3, just under five years after the judicial liquidation of the former local institution of the orange ball, the Stade Rodez Aveyron basketball, then in this division.
“We had some great moments, but above all, we managed to achieve our goal, still savors Matija Sagadin, emblematic captain who left “death in the soul” at the time, before returning as a hero in the skin of the young coach. But we have to keep playing. We talked about it yesterday (Tuesday) with the players and I felt them concerned. We still have to remain undefeated on the court (a match lost administratively despite the victory on the pitch in Colomiers on November 27) and get the title of Occitanie.”
Because yes, the Aveyronnais still have two matches to play in this accession phase: Saturday April 9, at 8 p.m., in the red lantern room, North-East Toulouse, then on the 24th, at 1 p.m., with the reception of the reserve of the TBC, second. For what issue? “We will play for first place in the last meeting. If we keep it, our opponent in the semi-finals (round trip) of the play-offs will be the runner-up in the other group of the climb.”
Just to make life easier to climb up to the ultimate duel, the one whose winner will lift the regional trophy. Purely honorary since it does not entitle you to any financial endowment: “Perhaps, but the club has not won one for a long time. This kind of season, we will not experience it every year! It would be silly not to go all the way, especially since we are more than capable of beating the first two in the Mediterranean zone.”
“A few arrivals” to expect
That’s for the short term future. But in September, blood and gold will go from regional to hexagonal. A level that the Slovenian coach wants to find with his “heart club”. Something to reassure Ruthenian President Xavier Alric, who knows his tactician is courted and “wishes”, unsurprisingly, “to keep him”: “He does a good job, has put together a good team, gets along well with the leaders … “
“But the project will have to be solid, warns Matija Sagadin. If we have come all this way, it is to have a competitive team in N3. The first year, the priority will obviously be to maintain, but not by tightening the buttocks . I want to keep as many members of my group as possible. The guys have proven their investment in the life of the club and have shown that they have the quality to play higher. Riding with guys who appreciate each other and show values on the floor, it’s capital.”
Not enough to blind him to the shortcomings of his workforce: “We must strengthen ourselves with a few arrivals because it is a championship in which there is more size and power within the racket, shots, which also goes faster … “” We need a bigger and stronger pivot, focused on defense, extends Xavier Alric. We are looking for a pair of players, we will see for the other position. But I do not ask any of the ours to leave.”
As for long-term ambitions? “The first season, we will aim for the middle of the table. Then, everything will depend on our budget. We are at 160,000 euros in the Prénationale, which is the standard for the division. town hall, 15,000 from the agglomeration and 10,000 from the county council. We hope that everyone will give us more and also have the support of the Region. As for private partners, we are knocking on doors to get more support. Because that we would like to reach the top 4 in a few years.”
