Here we go again. After a few days of rest, the Roanne Choir players returned to training on January 3. Tuesday January 7, they will resume competition. A recovery made with the Coupe de France since Roanne is still in the running. Maxime Roos' teammates are traveling to Alsace to face this great cartel (Gries-Oberhoffen, Souffelweyersheim, Weyersheim). “It's a resumption match after the break. It must serve to prepare us before Fos-sur-Mer”, summarizes Thomas Andrieux, the coach of the Chorale who experienced a busy end of the year with his participation, in the role of assistant coach of the French selection, at the All Star Game, on December 29.
Priority to the championship
The championship remains the group's priority. Especially since the Choraliens will play their place in the Leaders Cup against the Fosséens, this Saturday January 11 in Vacheresse. “Make no mistake, the important match of the week is that of Fos to try to qualify for the Leaders Cup with the other three leading teams,” he specifies.
Coaches and players are preparing for this trip without changing their way of doing things. “We are going to approach this match as in the first three rounds, by sharing the playing time,” explains Thomas Andrieux.
Three-day trip
This round of 16 is a good way to get back on track for the Chorale, which has two championship successes at the end of the year (against Orléans on December 20 and Denain on December 27). The staff wanted to qualify for precisely that but the draw did not live up to expectations with a long trip to the east of France. “We had considered receiving a Betclic Elite club,” indicates Thomas Andrieux. Instead of hosting, the group is taking a three-day trip (including by train) with departure this Monday, January 6 and return the day after the match. This is why the meeting of the 19th day in the championship has been postponed to Saturday January 11.
A well-known opponent
The Roannais know their opponent well since the two teams faced each other in Pro B on October 25. The tenants of Vacheresse had difficulty getting rid of the Alsatians. Roanne won after extra time (111-106). This time, the context turns out to be different. “We don't really know in what configuration she will present herself and how she will approach this round,” recognizes the Choir coach. Like Roanne, the Alsatians eliminated a first division team in the round of 16 by eliminating Châlon-sur-Saône (87-66).
On the staff side, Antoine Diot is still unavailable. Mathis Courbon, who suffered flu at the end of the year, returned to training. Donte Thomas returns to the group after his injury.
Alliance Sport Alsace v. Choir of Roanne
Tuesday January 7 at 8:30 p.m. Round of 16 of the Coupe de France.
