In Caen, university and football always go hand in hand
Through Sports Writing in Caen
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In March 2022, we were talking to you about Caen University football team, author of a superb course in the French Championship with a coronation at stake. This success had enabled him to reach the higher level. The team, made up of students from the University of Caen, therefore relaunched the machine, with the ambition of repeating the feat achieved last year. Despite a disrupted workforce, the squad still looks great on paper but especially on the ground. After a first 3-0 victory against the Sorbonne, then a spectacular 3-3 draw in the north of France, the Caennais obtained a draw (1-1 C.Noyelle), this Thursday, January 26, 2023, against a good formation from the University of Rouen, which represents France at the European Championships in Albania this year, Montpellier having declined the opportunity.
A workforce that has suffered many departures…
Benjamin Briand, who had brilliantly led the team to success, was renewed this season, still under the leadership of Christian Hestin. Some players from last year’s adventure are still present, such as Calvados residents Kévin Quenea (ASPTT Caen), Malo Guyvarc’h (AS Verson), Clément Duval (Bayeux FC) or Clément Noyelle (US Villers-Bocage) , but also Matteo Le Gall from Granville, who has appeared several times in National 2 this season. Nevertheless, the group saw itself amputated of many major elements left to discover other horizons. Alexis Jeanne and Emilien Hédou flew to Canada, Robin Housset and Ruben Lecellier left to try their luck in Malta, while Evan Olivier experienced a BPJEPS and must therefore be content to be the physical trainer of this team.
… but also very attractive recruits
Among the newcomers, we find among others Victor Labite and Djayson Maurice (N3 SU Dives), Mathieu Yandoko (AF Virois N3), Mathis Charlot (FC Saint-Lô N3) but also Zacharie Lebreton, big brother of Noé Lebreton, professional player at the Malherbe Stadium in Caen. Dazzling in the midfield against Rouen University, the third-year Eco-Gestion student had until then refused to join this team. But this year, he ended up giving in to the songs of the sirens.
It convinced me when I saw the course of the guys last year. It’s a full team of good players who rub shoulders with N3, R1 or even N1 for some. But above all, it’s a team of friends, everyone gets along well.
The US Avranches MSM player aspires to find the last four of the French championships, as his friends have done before.
French championship objective
Still unbeaten in 10 games since the start of the previous year, the “Lions”, as they call themselves, have become formidable over time. After a victory at the French University National 2 championships in 2022, the Bas-Normands are now in National 1.
In a group of five teams, the first of which is directly qualified for the quarter-finals, while the second and third will have to go through “Play-Offs”, Christian Hestin’s players will continue to monopolize the first places of the ranking. However, not everything is easy for a university team.
The guys never play together, it’s very difficult to create automatisms, passing circuits, etc. You have to deal with the injuries, there were nearly a dozen against Rouen, so it’s complicated . But despite everything, we keep a very competitive team.
The objective is clear for the 21-year-old young man: to qualify for the quarter-finals of the French Championships in Tremblay.
A European dream
The next step for Caen students is a trip to the University of the Littoral. The winner of this meeting will finish second in this mini championship, and will then find the third of another group in Play Off. After realizing the sensation of being promoted to National 1, the players therefore have their destiny in their hands (or their feet), and can continue to dream of participating in the European Championships in 2024…
(By our correspondent Oscar BELLEC)
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