Three Montpellier residents from the Val de Croze neighborhood club entered this weekend in the French K1 championship

Chafik Hassini, Ayman Dada, Naël Ziate et Miloud Kédir. LF – LF

Chafik Hassini, Ayman Dada et Naël Ziate représenteront Montpellier et leur club Kick-Boxing Val de Croze à Marseille pour l’épreuve nationale samedi et dimanche.

He will not be in the ring like in the good old days when he was a recognized kickboxing champion. But Miloud Kedir shaped his athletes in his cramped room at Place de Chine in the Val de Croze district and is accompanying them this weekend to the Palais des sports in Marseille for the French K1 championship. The three Montpellier athletes have ambitions.

Chafik Hassini, the ambitious

Originally from Bordeaux, Chafik Hassini grew up in a boxer's family. It was therefore quite natural that he followed the movement, starting with full-contact then kick boxing.

Aged 21, he settled in Montpellier last September. "When I picked it up, it’was a nag", exclaims Miloud Kédir. In Marseille, Chafik Hassini will fight in class A in the – 67kg with only one desire for someone who has a devastating left hook: "Winning the belt, I’ve dreamed of it since I was little."

Ayman Dada, the head and the fists

At 19 years old, for his second year with the big boys, Ayman Dada doesn't want to waste time: "The goal is to win, well sure, announces the first year student at the IUT in GEA. Champion of Occitanie last January, he is one of the favorites in class B in the – 71kg.

The one who started combat sports five years ago joined Kick Boxing Val-de-Croze last November. "He’s a very good boxer, announces Miloud Kédir. One of the best in the region, good technically and with his knees but also very valiant."

Naël Ziate, the young talent

The Val de Croze club places part of its title hopes on Naël Ziate. In juniors in the – 54kg, the 17-year-old can hope to win. "If he is crowned champion, he will go to the French team, thinks Miloud Kédir. He has the means, the mentality. In training, he listens very well, he's a kid who wants it."

Naël Ziate, a senior high school student who hopes to continue his studies in Staps, can count on his past in taekwondo within 3MTKD and in boxing to shine in K1.