Women’s Basketball World Cup: the first big challenge for coach Jean-Aimé Toupane, former player and coach in Toulouse
A little less than a year after his appointment, Jean-Aimé Toupane will lead Les Bleues for the first time in an international competition, on the occasion of the World Cup which opens this Thursday, September 22 in Australia ( until October 1). With the host country on the menu as a starter (12:30 p.m., on beIN).
Taking over from Valérie Garnier was like a poisoned gift. Especially after a last Olympic campaign rewarded with a bronze medal. But it took more to discourage Jean-Aimé Toupane (64), whose CV nevertheless raised many questions when he was appointed head of the French women’s team. Including among his relatives. “I was flabbergasted, like everyone else”, slipped last fall Alain Jardel, the one who had brought him to Mirande from Dakar in 1980.
Because although from the federal bosom, the one who then passed, among other clubs, by Monaco and Spacer’s Toulouse, had never led a selection and even less a women’s team, being in charge of the under 20s at the time. of the announcement of his appointment. “I understand the questions but I don’t take umbrage, otherwise I wouldn’t have accepted the job,” he said in our columns. I am entrusted with a mission and this one cannot be refused. »
A choice defended at the time by Jean-Pierre Siutat, the president of the French Federation, refuting the idea of cronyism with a friend of more than 30 years: “We assume. I have zero problem with that because we don’t is really not there to have fun with the friends of the federal environment (sic). No, if we take this direction of the tandem (the ex-international Cathy Melain will assist Jean-Aimé Toupane), it is because we believes that this is a very good formula to bring another discourse. ” Knowing that the Gersois Jacques Commères (director of performance and the French teams) and the Tarbaise Céline Dumerc (general manager) complete this staff .
Hurry up
“A genius idea, supported Jardel. Saying that he does not know the players is bullshit. At INSEP, believe me, he saw them all, they were training in the room next door! Girls or boys, of course there are differences, but the job remains the same…”
Almost one year after taking office, Jean-Aimé Toupane will therefore have to take up a first challenge in official competition, during the World Cup in Australia where the French will face Australia, Serbia, Canada, Japan and Mali. Engaged in “a process of reconstruction”, both in terms of the workforce and the game, and not hiding his desire to open up the group and modify its DNA by bringing it closer to male standards in terms of aggressiveness and combat , the coach of the Blue knows he is expected.
But while his debut confirmed that the work was immense (6 wins for 5 losses), we must not waste time and obtain convincing results from this world campaign. Because beyond the question of legitimacy, it is difficult not to forget that the Paris Olympic Games are in two years…