The women’s team of Cavigal Nice has seen its off-season shaken up by the arrival of three players and a new coach. It’s the conclusion of a season that looks uncertain but not compromised…
“Objective Europe.” Just arrived at Cavigal, Serge Provillard, the new coach of the women’s team, sets the tone. Freshly arriving from Antibes, where he was managing the men’s team, the man hopes to finish in the top six of the league, thus playing in a European cup next season.
And the challenge does not seem unachievable. Cavigal’s recruitment is promising: Hamchetou Maiga, a player from Sacramento in the WNBA, and Johanne Gomis, a junior international, will complement an already talented squad consisting of Emilie Petiteau, Julie Barennes, Clémence Beikes, and Avija Azace among others.
This is the first time Serge Provillard is taking the reins of a women’s team, and he has no apprehensions: “It’s still basketball. The approach isn’t very different from men’s. I don’t think about them being women in the way I work.”
However, the coach remains undecided: “I don’t know the value of the teams in the women’s league. We will see over the course of the matches,” but he has a clear objective: “I’ve come to bring my experience and help the club rise higher. I am happy to be here.”
Between hope and uncertainty, Serge Provillard has a watchword to make the team work: “conviviality.”
“The team will function better in good spirits while not neglecting the work. Everyone will find their place and that’s just fine,” he emphasizes.
Thus, in a spirit of congeniality, training resumed on August 26th. Only three players took to the Leyrit courts (Petiteau, Barennes, and Beikes). Whether due to international selections, the WNBA finals, or injuries, Serge Provillard will not have a complete roster until the end of the month; a challenging preseason for the Nice coach, but he remains hopeful: “We have quality players and a good team overall. Once we have a full squad, we’ll really be able to gauge this team’s worth.”
Cavigal will kick off their season on October 1st in Paris against Aix, in a derby that promises to be heated.
Sebastien Spitaleri