After their victory against Nyon on November 16, the Foxes are on the right track and are maintaining motivation. A team with ambitions but which will not get by without more resources, announces its coach.
He has stars in his eyes when he thinks about this match. Against Nyon, Randoald Dessarzin led the Pully Lausanne Foxes to victory, 94 to 78. Between two sports lessons at the Chamblandes gymnasium, Randoald Dessarzin talks to us about the successes of his players. Interview.
What tipped the scales during this match?
The rhythm. Two or three times a season, I say to myself: “this team cannot be coached, it does not need it”. It was very pleasant, because they responded, and apart from two or three adaptations to make, it was forty minutes of great defensive intensity, of fast play. Everything was decided in the first minutes with Flo Steinmann’s shots, and thereafter, there was no selfishness on the floor, just a desire to share the ball. Ultimately, it shows that we have a lot of strings to our bow and that we can change our style of play depending on absences (editor’s note: the American Mickael Marsh was injured). And I hope that with all these strings, we will soon move from guitar to harp.
What is your assessment after two months of the season?
It’s good! I’ve been here for twelve years. It was very pretentious of me to want to help restore the nobility of Lausanne basketball. But I feel like this time we’re really on the right track. Despite the back and forth, climbs, administrative relegations, covid, all these things that slowed us down. Today, many things are being put in place so that we can hold out over time. But we are also working on Swiss Basketball on our bodies to feel better supported. We have an extremely low payroll, a club budget which is becoming important because we have invested a lot in communication, in technical monitoring, the youth movement, physical trainers, etc. It’s a whole club that we’re trying to grow. Swiss Basketball, but also the sponsors: it’s hard to perform like that and be told: “No, we put everything into hockey. » It’s an easy excuse, because one wouldn’t preclude the other.
about twenty hours per week
What is your relationship with the public?
It follows us more and more, but it’s a fairly fragile base. That said, it is not pretentious to say that with Friborg Olympique, we are the most spectacular team in the championship. We have a « Human Highlight » in the person of Dequan Morris, we have Jamal George, Bryan Colon, Flo Steinmann, aesthetically they are pleasant players to see. Of course, aesthetics don’t make you win, but if you can continue to win at home and put on a show, it makes you want to go to the gym.
What is your ambition for the end of this season?
Already to win the next match. Every day its pain. In this case, the next one is Neuchâtel, (editor’s note: November 30 away) a key match in terms of the top four. Who says victory against Neuchâtel, says better disposition to receive Massagno (editor’s note: December 7) in terms of confidence and the public.
Then, the ambition is to move into the top four in SBL, which would be a first for the club.
Where do you see your team in two years?
I would love to see her compete for a title. But the structure of the club will have to be improved. A moment ago, if we don’t increase the payroll, we won’t make it. There will inevitably be departures. Some, if they have been with us for several seasons, it is out of loyalty, not for the salary.
Are you frustrated about this?
When I get up in the morning, I inevitably see the glass as half full. But yes, it’s frustrating to see everything that’s required for a match: we have to set up stands, a room, and finally to agree that we can’t come and film us because the room doesn’t fit. is not videogenic. Even if I love the Vallée de la Jeunesse, which in my opinion remains one of the most beautiful rooms in Switzerland. But it is not up to the level of Lausanne’s facilities. We deserve better. Projects exist, perhaps in Beaulieu, it is being considered. And then what breaks my heart, at the club level, is that there are around a hundred kids who are on a waiting list to join us, because we don’t have the equipment. It’s a shame. We must be able to look at ourselves in the mirror.
Next match therefore against Neuchâtel. How are you going to keep up the pace from the last meeting?
We first did a generic workout. There was a break for the national teams, so we didn’t play this weekend. But from Monday, we focused more specifically on Neuchâtel. It’s a very young and very pleasant team, but youth also means lack of consistency, it can be the story of a match.
