Waly Diouf – Formose Mendy, central hinge of Nîmes Olympique: “This communion, who would have believed it ?”

Formose Mendy, known as “Fofo”, 30 years old, 1.85 m, 79 kg, 2620 minutes of play in the National this season, 1 goal, 2 assists, 6 yellow cards and 1 red. Midi Free – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Waly Diouf, dit “Le roc”, 27 ans, 1,92 m, 90 kg, 2518 minutes de jeu en National cette saison, 1 but, 1 passe décisive, 7 cartons jaunes. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Captain Formose Mendy and vice-captain Waly Diouf: the central croco hinge spoke to Midi Libre before the 34th and final day of National, Saturday May 18 in Martigues (18 May). hours).

Over the last ten years, there has been the Poulain-Boche pair, who distinguished themselves in L2. The Harek-Briançon duo symbolized the transition to L1. And if the Mendy-Diouf pair marked the Nîmes defensive revival in National ? The two recruits, designated captain and vice-captain, very quickly became pillars of the reconstruction. So, we wanted to bring together Formose Mendy, says “Fofo” (30 years old, from the Paris region, 77 ; 1.85 m, 79 kg) and Waly Diouf, known as “Le roc” (27 years old, 9-2; 1.92m, 90kg) for an interview…hellip; hinge.

"A club that exudes something"

How are the young dads, and how are they feeling in Nîmes ? "We are fine, replies Mendy. It’s especially mothers who should be asked the question (laughs). I have three children, including a Croco, Loé, who was born in Carémeau, where the team is at the top! We adapted well, even if the sea was very close in Normandy (he played in Avranches)we miss. The club gave me responsibilities, and I am happy to have been able to avoid the descent, which would have been a disaster for Nîmes. We managed to stop the bleeding from the club and achieve the objective. Even if I had other ambitions…"

At his friend Diouf, "it’it’was a little more of a tidal wave at the start because’Issa is our first child, we does not have the experience of Formosa (also laughs). He's 5 months old, he's growing well, we've got our bearings. Here, we feel good, and that's important because if we go home and our wife and our children are not happy, it's hard to flourish on the ground. The season was difficult, but I tried to stay the course, having the confidence of both coaches. I discovered a separate club, which has something going on. Nîmes Olympique leaves no one indifferent".

"We were half a train late"

Relegated at the end of the first leg, leaders of the return leg, did the Crocodiles initially underperform ? & quot;We arrived, no one knew each other, the staff had been refurbished. We were half a train late compared to others. We felt, when we played certain teams, that they were well-established…hellip; and we are breaking in. Now we have certainties and a basis on which to rely. We also learned from our mistakes", answers n°5.

"We came away with a lot of problems at the club, add the n°22, and we end on a good note with this communion between players, supporters and staff. Who would have believed it? We must build on this to prepare for the future of the club. The group had to get to know this very underrated championship, whether from those coming from the floor above or from below. We lacked regularity and high standards. Mentally, we weren't ready to stay at the top of the table."

"We want to hit higher"

The two axials still have one year of contract. They want to stay "if Seb (Larcier, the sports director) wants, as well as the president"< /em>, they smile. Before speaking with one voice: "We are getting ready to speak with the leaders, before the holidays. Maintenance was the minimum. We want to hit higher. We are confident for the future. We've eaten enough shit this season. With what is being created around the club, we cannot do less than this end of the championship. This summer, we won't be starting from scratch. This group has potential, there will be arrivals with added value. And we work in good conditions: we have a nice stadium, good staff, we are paid on time. We have nothing to complain about. All this means that Nîmes cannot last forever in National".