the rant of the president of a basketball club
Since the start of the first confinement, the USPEG, one of the main basketball clubs in Marseille, no longer has access to its gymnasium, in the 10th arrondissement of Marseille. The origin of the problem: broken baskets that no one wants to repair. Last Friday, the town hall undertook to finance the work to the tune of 21,000 euros.
“I’ve been in this club for 15 years and I’ve given it my life. And look at what state our gymnasium is in?” launches Philippe Del Santo, president of the USPEG basket, with tears in his eye. With the phone in hand, he films the scene to broadcast it live on his page Facebook.
The pigeons have made their nest there, the baskets are broken and the double glazing is roughly patched up with adhesive tape.
This video is his last resort to express his displeasure. So, tirelessly for several days, you have to share on your social networks to raise awareness. A guided tour of the Ledeuc complex in the 10th arrondissement of Marseille, closed for two years, which makes many Internet users react.
“It’s a shame not to respect sport to this extent, and basketball in particular. Congratulations Philippe for your involvement, and shame on the city of Marseille for having left this gymnasium abandoned. We are coming out of “A period of an infernal pandemic without being able to enjoy our hobbies and passions. Because of an administrative paper, we are still deprived of practicing our sport in complete freedom? Wake up !” exclaims Anne-Lise.
And yet this gymnasium is a big story. Created in 1971, it has hosted many international tournaments in the past. “Poland, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain came to play here!” launches the president of the basketball club, exhausted by the absence of answers to his multiple emails.
I have a team of female seniors (18 to 23 years old) who play pre-national. They are forced to train elsewhere, once at Forbin, another time at La Bombardière.
Philippe Del Santo, president of the USBEG basket
Despite the conditions in which we extend, they are first and aim to climb to national 3. We want to develop sport for girls but we are not given the means.
Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, the 296 licensees of this club have been forced to train and play their matches elsewhere. They are relocated to two gymnasiums located in the 11th and 14th arrondissements of Marseille. College and high school students in the area cannot use this facility either.
The 14 schools that come from Monday to Friday are obliged to play sports outdoors on the football pitch and cannot practice badminton, handball or basketball indoors, for example.
Philippe Del Santo, president of the USBEG basket
So who is responsible? The gymnasium belongs to the EDF Works Council, the CMCAS. But it was returned to the city in 2006, by a 99-year emphyteutic lease, for a symbolic 1 euro, according to Philippe Del Santo who holds the document in his hands. “At that price, if I’m a tenant, I can do the repairs!” says the volunteer, in a dry tone, advancing on the petrol blue floor of the basketball court, now covered with dust and bird droppings.
Problem: Both institutions defer responsibility for work. On the CMCAS side, a board of directors was scheduled for Friday, March 25. “But no response since” replies Philippe Del Santo. And on the town hall side, the sports department explains: “It is a very complicated file, we have not been mandated to intervene. A meeting with the CMCAS, owner of the complex, is scheduled for next week to sign a new lease in the rules. Before that, the legal and financial department of the city cannot authorize the work because it would be illegal.”
I want to go very quickly because this situation does not suit me at all. Our sports policy is to allow Marseilles people sport for all.
Sébastien Jibrayel, sports assistant at the town hall of Marseille
“I asked that we add in the lease the mention “support for works and maintenance”” adds deputy Sébastien Jibrayel.
In the meantime, the attraction for the club is plummeting. “I have lost 40% of my licensees, especially young people. Their parents do not want to cross town to take the children to the basket. This year, I have 9 kids aged 7-8 who are training. normally, I have around 45″ explains Philippe Del Santo.
In Marseille, European capital of sport in 2017, many clubs have little or no access to infrastructure. Can we afford not to maintain the existing one? Especially since the gymnasium in question is a “beautiful” gymnasium, with bleachers, which is rare in Marseille.
Faced with the shortage of sports equipment, the city has launched a major rehabilitation plan.
We are missing 50% of the facilities to be able to satisfy all the disciplines combined. We have to deal with a delay that was delivered over 30 years, everything is dilapidated.
Sébastien Jibrayel, sports assistant at the town hall of Marseille
“We have recovered funding from the National Sports Agency (ANS). And over the last 20 months, we have been able to transform 8 synthetic pitches, refurbish 4 gymnasiums and 4 athletics tracks. But there is still more missing of 10 water basins”explains Sébastien Jibrayel, who does not hide his motivation.
The town hall has undertaken to finance the work to the tune of around 20,000 euros to repair the two baskets, once all the documents have been signed. “The budget is planned. And now that we have managed to open this debate, don’t look in the rear view mirror, but let’s move on” discovered Sébastien Jibrayel. Before announcing a renovation “in the coming weeks”.
“I have nothing against the city of Marseille, but if I hadn’t made this video, there would surely have been nothing. Except that my club has been sleeping for two and a half years, and that’s the problem !” loose Philippe Del Santo. Former general secretary of truck drivers, he does not forget to take care that he “don’t give up in life” before hanging up the phone “with the hope that things will change”.