Nîmes Olympique: Hamza Sbaï, the uninhibited right

Among the neo-pros of the crocodile squad, Hamza Sbaï is one of the rare ones to have made his mark, he who was used 21 times in National by Frédéric Bompard. Midi Libre – Mikaël Anisset

Crocodile right back Hamza Sbaï is, this season, one of the revelations of Nîmes Olympique, which hosts Cholet on Friday March 8, for the 24th day of National.

If Namakoro Diallo represents the generous left, his counterpart Hamza Sbaï embodies the uninhibited right. "It’s a good title, validates Frédéric Bompard. This corresponds to what he is, a boy who plays without asking questions."

Of all the neo-professionals in the Nîmes group, Hamza Sbaï, just behind Orphé Mbina, is the one who was used the most by Frédéric Bompard, taking advantage of the injuries and suspensions of Ronny Labonne: twenty-one appearances in the Championship including thirteen as holder. "This is not negligible, agrees the native of Avignon, who celebrated his 24th birthday on February 24. But I must not give up, I must continue to work."

Travail devant le but pour les Crocos avec des centres, côté droit, de Sbaï et Labonne, en concurrence sur le poste. pic.twitter.com/GH0qdkM6Rd

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) March 6, 2024

Great burst of energy and strong determination on all balls

"I said at the start of the season that it could be a good surprise, it’s the case. He settled in, Fred (Bompard) managed to get him over the hump. We still have to give it time but its development is taking its course,” says Adil Hermach. At the origin of his coming to Nîmes Olympique, the coach of the Croco reserve carefully observes the performances of his protégé: "I appreciate his energy, his determination on all balls. He always gives his all and corresponds to the values ​​of the club."

Bompard: "It has progressed but it can still be improved"

Used on the right side, the usual number 8 had to relearn the specificities of a position where he had not played for a long time. "It’went on its own, stringing together matches during preparation", he says, he who "felt the difference, especially in terms of intensity&quot ;, between the N3 known at Beaucaire and the National.

"He has progressed but there is still room for improvement, he must improve in his way of defending, notes Frédéric Bompard. He has the faults of his qualities: he is so generous that sometimes he arrives late on shots where he should not go."

"Defensively, he does the job. Comfortable in one-on-one situations, he is rarely found wanting but he must do better on balls behind him, better close the far post on crosses, better manage situations with a numerical inferiority and progress in his head game, complete Hermach.

The Echoes of the Crocos

Labonne.His careful right quadriceps strain, Ronny Labonne, whose last appearance dates back to the move to Sochaux (17th day), resumed collective training at the start of last week. On Wednesday, at the end of the session, he did some work, specific work at the full-back position, under the orders of the physical trainer Aur&eacute ;Boche link. "We're going to need him quickly with the suspensions à Niort de Sbaï and Diallo, recalls Bompard. Ronny has to catch up, hence the extra work he does."

Ngakoutou. Attacker Wesley Ngakoutou, not summoned; by Bompard during the last six days, has been selected with the Central African Republic selection to play a friendly international tournament in Sri Lanka. The Fauves will face Bhutan on March 22 and Papua New Guinea on March 25.

Effective. Fr&déric Bompard currently has almost a full squad. There are only two players left. the infirmary: defender Sanassa Sy, who is treating a strain; and goalkeeper Lucas Dias, who will shortly leave for the European Sports Rehabilitation Center in Capbreton (Landes), to begin the rehabilitation of his knee left operated last October.

Niort. À Due to a lighting failure at the René-Gaillard stadium, the Niort – Marignane-Gignac meeting, scheduled for next week 7:30 p.m. on Friday March 1, had been advanced à 15 hours. What will happen to the next trip of the Crocos to Deux-Sevres since the lighting, at the moment, is not the case? to date, has not been repaired ? The Chamois Niortais, traveling this Monday March 11 to Dijon (24th day), asked &agrav; play on Saturday March 16 à 3 p.m., to have an extra day of recovery. The Crocos do not agree and would prefer that the match take place Friday March 15 at 15 hours. To be able to keep the meeting until Friday March 15 à 7:30 p.m., the Niort club, according to crocodile coach Fr&déric Bompard, would also have mentioned the possibility to retreat to another stadium, à Angoulême (Charente) or à Montmorillon (Vienna)… Case à follow. 

Learn to channel yourself

"My nature is to be active and my strong point is to defend by moving forward but it’s true that I want to recover the ball too quickly , I make errors of judgment and mistakes. I have to find the right balance, to be more lucid at key moments, it's really a point that I'm working on, replies Hamza Sbaï, out during the break on Friday in Nancy (3-1) because that he had received a yellow card – he will be suspended for the trip to Niort – and that his coach was afraid that he wouldn't finish the match.

Scorer against Rouen (2-0) and decisive passer in front of Goal FC (1-2), the speedy Sbaï should "have more offensive stats", assures Hermach. "Like many of our players, he needs to improve his quality as a center,” notes Bompard. "I have to finish my movements better and there too, I work on it during each training", confirms the one who never loses his smile.

"A Revenge" to take against Cholet after Nancy's failed second half 

The renewal of his team since the start of the year, Sbaï attributes it "to a new mentality, to the work and progress that the group has accomplished together&quot ;.

Nancy's second non-half, he doesn't make a drama out of it – "It happens that we miss out, we must not doubt ourselves" – but he knows it: "In front of Cholet, we owe revenge to the staff and the supporters. There is no easy match, even against the last one, but at home, you have to play hard, more than hard even, at 200%, and get the three points, whatever the odds. rsquo;he’s coming."

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