Handball: Frontignan Thau Handball is now the sole leader of the Proligue

Le co-président Sylvain Pelegrin peut être fier de ses joueurs. MIDI LIBRE – Jérôme Belluire

Les "Noir et Or", vainqueurs 32-39 ce vendredi 27 septembre à Cournon, sont invaincus après quatre journées.

This Saturday evening, the Frontignan THB fans were with their noses glued to their screens. The day after their team's big win in Cournon, they were watching Dijon's result against Pontault-Combault. And the good news came, Dijon having been held to a draw on their own ground, the leader's chair was now adorned only with the colours “Black and Gold”.

Screenshot

Among these fans, there was of course one of their biggest, namely Sylvain Pelegrin. « We can take a screenshot! », the co-president of the FTHB was pleased to say this Sunday. «I wouldn't have imagined that we would be in this position. I thought that, over the first five matches, we would have two, or even three wins at best. And now, we have a superb match for Friday at Ferrari with the arrival of Caen, the other team still undefeated (Editor's note: with a game in hand). The players and staff had perhaps secretly imagined it, but not us. Especially after a delicate preparation phase where, ultimately, they hadn't revealed everything. »

A talented squad and kids in the making

As good strategists, Guillaume Crépain and Joris Machard had indeed kept some up their sleeve. Cournon, who had just imposed themselves in pre-season against the Frontignanais, paid the price, overwhelmed from the start of the match with a score of 4-12 after twelve minutes of play. « Our executives manage to renew a spectacular game with lots of goals. It's a pleasure to watch this team play. There is a talented squad, with kids in the making who are not yet cut out for the Proligue. We will see if we can continue at this pace, for that we must keep the whole group healthy. If we are able to play for the first six places, it is because we will have done what is necessary. But obviously nothing is acquired yet. Because the higher the monkey climbs, the more we see his ass! »

On the art of optimizing everything

The maxim is tasty, but the warning is real and in line with the values ​​of the FTHB. The club is currently dominating its subject in Proligue, but heads will certainly remain cool. «  It is certain that, if we look at our progression over three years, with play-offs the first year then Final Four the second, it is not abnormal to see us at the top», continues Sylvain Pelegrin. « But still, with our payroll (Editor's note: 420,722 €, the smallest in the championship), without big names or international CVs, it's crazy… This proves that the collective prevails over individuals. I'm not giving any lessons by saying this, I'm just saying that we're optimizing everything. »

A constant progression that gives food for thought

Now we need to push the thinking on the structural level. « The grocer that I am hopes that all this will encourage our partners to support us even more and in the long term”, notes the co-president of Frontignan Thau Handball. Between the ticketing, the refreshment bar, the partners or even the event part, the need for an extension of Ferrari, for a team that regularly plays at the top of the Proligue table – or even higher – really gives food for thought.
In the meantime, there is no doubt that Ferrari will be sold out this Friday for the arrival of the Vikings of Caen.