Soccer. From SM Caen to AG Caen, Sabri Toufiqui hopes to move forward
By Aline Chatel
Published on
As a teenager, many saw him as a future crack. Toufic Sabri was the nugget of the training center of the Malherbe Caen Stadium. He was 16 when he took his first steps in the reserved team. Nine years later, after stints with Rennes, Le Havre and Laval, the midfielder is still wearing his crampons in National 3. He certainly played in the top division at Stade Rennais and had three appearances in National with Laval, but the did not reach the heights hoped for.
A first revised approach
Sabri Toufiqui returned to the fold by committing late with the Avant Garde Caennaise. Last season, his signing in Vire was to allow him to redo the icing. The operation turned out to be quite successful. “I had proposals in National 2 but the project and the financial aspect were not great,” he said. Sabri Toufiqui then returned to Vire, who had completed his squad. The first approaches with the Avant Garde were not more beneficial. “I had refused his profile because I was not on this search,” explained coach Olivier Meurillon at the end of September.
A federal contract at the MCO
It was Morgan Hardoin, whom Sabri Toufiqui met in his gym in Hérouville, who made the link between the club and the player. Sabri Toufiqui signed up under a federal contract with the Avant Garde, whose coach he knew. The two men had met for the first time in the France U16 team, when Olivier Meurillon was the deputy.
At that time, therefore, the way seemed clear for the big brother of Azzeddine. But the successive choices – “not bad” – according to the person concerned) did not pay off, between pubalgia, changes of coaches and “scheming”. Sabri Toufiqui even spent a white season, in 2019-2020, during which he trained… with AG Caen.
A decisive pass in his first game
Today, the left-hander wants to advance “step by step”. “I hope to bounce higher. It goes through a good season with the Avant Garde. The objective is to seek the National level 2 with the club. “The presence of this great potential must contribute to this. Olivier Meurillon boasts “the very interesting analysis of the game” of his environment, well helped by his great technical quality. Lacking rhythm, Sabri Toufiqui settled for a Decision pass against Quevilly Rouen Métropole, for his first match, in the middle of a perfectible performance. Encouraging, determined.
Leader of National 3 with AF Virois, with which it shares the record of four victories in four games, AG Caen welcomes the promoted Gonfreville, this Saturday October 29 (6 p.m.). Gonfreville made a good start to the season with three wins and two losses.
Was this article helpful to you? Know that you can follow Sport in Caen in space My News . In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.