In Nice, youth development is the priority. They are, moreover, successive French 15U Champions in 2021 and 2022. By reaching Division 1 in 2019, the club gave itself the opportunity to grow its young players to the highest level in France. The results in Division 1 are still fragile. In 2019, they finished 10th out of 12, in 2021, 10th out of 11. Last year, they finished last and were saved by the Division 2 champions (Clermont-Ferrand) who did not want to promote.
Interview with Isabelle Bertrand, President of the club.
BTVF: What assessment do you make of the 2022 season?
A positive assessment with the integration of many young players from our training and Pole France with more experienced players has led to cohesion.
BTVF: What is your main objective for the 2023 season across all possible competitions for your club?
Our only objective is to maintain for the 2024 season.
Continue to integrate our young players from the club and Pole France.
BTVF: What collective strengths will you rely on to approach each match one after the other?
On the good cohesion of the group and the versatility of the players on the field and the line-up.
BTVF: Do you plan to broadcast the matches and if you already do, what improvements do you envisage for 2023?
Unfortunately, we do not have the financial and human resources to offer this currently.
BTVF: What are the advantages and disadvantages in your view of having a team in Division 2 in addition to Division 1?
The advantages:
- a certain notoriety for the club,
- having a pool of players
- giving playing time to the club’s promising youngsters
The disadvantages:
- financial
- more officials needed (referees, scorers)
- lack of training for volunteers at the coaching level
BTVF: What have you improved in terms of infrastructure for this new season?
Currently, we have submitted a project to improve the field to the Sports Department.
BTVF: What have been the main adaptations in terms of training and recruitment that you have considered to prepare for the 2024 season (8 teams, JFL players…)?
Before preparing for the 2024 season, let’s first finish the 2023 season well.
Maintaining or descending a division will not change our objectives of training young people to meet the demands of the championships.
The notion of JFL, which was proposed to us at the Presidents’ meeting, still needs to be well defined as some points remain ambiguous.
BTVF: What can we wish you for 2023?
Maintaining in joy and good humor
Photo Credit: Benjamin Witte
