Handball: Usam Nîmoises, from the rise with Marguerittes to the ambitions of D2

Les Nîmoises ne seront pas des promues comme les autres. PHOTO USAM

Promoted to Nationale 1 femmes, the Gardoise team wants to continue its rise. And has given itself the means to achieve its ambitions. Presentation.

“We're not hiding it, we're aiming for promotion to D2.” For the coming year, the president of Usam Nîmes David Tebib is overflowing with ambition for his women's section, Usam Nîmoises, promoted to Nationale 1 after being in N2 a year ago.

“I am very happy that we are back with the “Infernal Parnassus”, continues the Nîmes manager. The project is refocusing a little more, even if I do not forget Nîmes’arguerittes with whom we remain in partnership. I am happy that the girls who believed in this project from the beginning can play for promotion to D2."

Everything of a pro team

Among them, goalkeeper Laurie Carretero, 28 years old, eight of which were in the pro world between 2012 and 2020, loyal from the start. "You followed when we moved the team up to N3 in the summer of 2022, recalls the former HBC Nîmes player, back in play after a knee injury. There was already a project, a good third of the players (21 players)was already there. Compared to the N1 that I knew, today's level is completely different but it's still playable. We have the team for it. The new players are experienced players, with an enormous capacity for adaptation."

Back Samantha Priou, 32, arrives from Plan-de-Cuques (D1) with ten years of experience in the professional world. "The fact that Nîmes is a structured club and that the girls benefit from the facilities of the boys' team, with a D1 medical staff, played a huge role in my decision, in addition to playing for promotion to D2, says one of the three professionals (with Semerle and Rœlandt) on the team, returning from injury. The more professional you are, the more you can perform on the field at the weekend."

Mouna Chebbah, the cherry on the cake

To reach the goal and emerge champion of the group, nothing was left to chance. "When we know the club's project, we might as well put the D2 objective straight away in mind and see how it goes in the end", notes coach Antoine Soulier, who will be able to count on a reinforcement of weight, announced Thursday: Mouna Chebbah!

At 42 years old, the former HBCN and Bouillargues, Tunisian international (237 caps) who was one of the best players in the world, is the icing on a cake more than’ rsquo;appetizing.

The first round of the Federal French Cup will take place on the weekend of August 31 and September 1. In the men's competition, Bagnols (Nationale 2) will travel to Adge (Nationale 3) on Sunday at 4 p.m. In the women's event, also travel for Usam Nîmoises (Nationale 1), who will play on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in the Avignon venue, Nationale 2 team. I subscribe to read more