In an interview with AFP on Friday, double Olympic champion Earvin Ngapeth explains his return to the French championship in Poitiers.
Best player of the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic tournaments, Earvin Ngapeth, who had been playing abroad for 13 years, has signed for one season at Poitiers with the possibility of leaving his new club at the beginning of January in the event of an interesting offer. A well-kept secret until the surprise announcement on Thursday evening. “I told my mother two days before, my friends here didn’t know, no one knew. So we also had a bit of fun”he explains, in an interview given to AFP this Friday.
After the adrenaline rush of the Olympic title in Paris, did you want a new challenge?
Earvin Ngapeth : It’s mainly that I’m from Poitiers, so with my family (he has three children, aged 4 to 10, Editor’s note) we wanted to settle down a little after 13 years abroad. I think it was also the right time to give my club, my city, a boost. There is this objective of restoring the reputation of Alterna Stade Poitevin a little. There is a lot of work and it will be nice: it’s the club of my heart, so we will do it with our hearts. I’m from Poitiers, but I’m not often in Poitiers. I think I will also be able to do things for my city (image services are included in his contract, Editor’s note). It’s also a new challenge, because I know that I will be expected.
Did you always say to yourself that you would wear the Stade Poitevin jersey as a professional?
I knew one day it would happen. But to be honest, I didn’t think it would happen so quickly after an Olympic title.
Did giving back to French volleyball what it gave you also play a role?
Yes, for French volleyball, I think it’s great too. I talk a lot with the guys from the French team: Nicolas Le Goff (the only 2024 Olympic champion playing this season in Ligue A before his arrival, Editor’s note) returned to Montpellier a few years ago, today me, and I know that we all want to return a little (Jenia Grebennikov also mentioned her desire to return in the short term, Editor’s note). There is really a big desire to be able to play in our championship. Some of us are over 30, we are almost all fathers: these are not easy lives for our partners and children. We are all starting to think a little. The fact that some players start to return can create excitement around the championship. Maybe also bring in more sponsors to be able to start competing, in terms of contracts, with the big European championships.
I think volleyball needs players from the French team in its championship.
Earvin Ngapeth
Did sharing this extraordinary moment during the Games with the French public also play a role?
Of course. Something has been created, we have taken another step in volleyball. I think volleyball needs players from the French team in its championship.
Do you already know if you will continue your adventure with the French team until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles?
It’s hard to plan for four years. With what we’ve just experienced, to say to ourselves after a month “We’re leaving for four years”it’s complicated. We’re going to work step by step. Next summer, there’s a world championship, the only title missing. I think that a large majority of the team will want to go for that title. Afterwards, it will be discussed between us, we’re also waiting to find out what’s going to happen with the staff: Andrea Giani continues (the coach has been extended until the 2028 Olympics, Editor’s note), but we don’t have any information yet on the staff. I know that there are a lot of discussions going on at the moment. It will also play a role in our group discussion.
