Update on the future of the Costières stadium, season over for Renaud Ripart, David Tebib hands over, the OAC goalkeeper leaves and a Gardois forced to abandon the Dakar.
Nimes Olympic
Work in 2025? The sale agreement for the Costières stadium between Rani Assaf (SAS Nemau) and the city of Nîmes officially ended on December 31. The majority shareholder of NO is still awaiting a decision concerning the appeal he filed against the municipality to challenge the refusal of building permits. As announced on Sunday in Les indiscretions, the mayor of Nîmes Jean-Paul Fournier proposed a last-chance meeting to Rani Assaf on January 29. It remains to be seen whether the latter will accept when the dialogue has been broken for a long time. While waiting for this possible meeting or a sale of the club, the City had already worked on a renovation of the Costières stadium. We remember, in April 2024, a 9 million euro study to renovate the enclosure which notably provides for the demolition of the West stand to construct a building and rent it to companies. A project that seems distant, especially when we remember these images from Objectif Gard, shot in mid-November, of abandoned equipment that has become the jungle. More than ever the owner of the stadium, the municipality therefore wants to renovate the sports venue built in 1989. During the last municipal council, where the budget was voted on, a Costières stadium line appeared with an amount of 700,000 euros. This amount is dedicated to studies and the launch of contracts for initial works in order to bring the site up to professional standards. “It takes six months of studies and eight months of work”says a well-informed source. It depends on when Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier gives the green light, the meeting or not with Rani Assaf will be decisive. Depending on the project, work could start as early as this year. “Regardless of whether a buyer arrives or not, the Costières stadium must be renovated, because the provisional permit for the Antonins stadium ends in 2027”confides another source close to the matter. Initially, the priority is to raise the lawn, install horizontal lighting and redevelop the changing room area. A renovation which would therefore be carried out in stages before returning to Nîmes Olympique which left the enclosure in November 2022.
Renaud Ripart suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. • Photo : Anthony Maurin.
Ripart, season over. A week ago, we informed you of the birth of Roméo, the third child of Renaud Ripart, undoubtedly Nîmes' favorite footballer. A man fulfilled off and on the pitch since he had just scored three goals in two games. While he had just scored again, on a pass from former Nîmes Rafiki Saïd, fate decided to fall on Nîmes, last Saturday against Rodez in Ligue 2. In the 63rd minute, the striker was out with injury. The verdict is final, he suffers from a rupture of the cruciate ligaments. So the season is already over. A new hard blow for Rips who had been injured for ten months (from April 2023 to February 2024) for a ruptured Achilles tendon. For the player who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on March 14, this serious injury undoubtedly spells the end of his Trojan adventure, because he is reaching the end of his contract next June. And why not consider a return to Nîmes?
OAC
Éric Moreau leaves the OAC • Photo : Sacha Virga
Farewell for Moreau. Éric Moreau, one of the oldest players in the current squad, bows out at Olympique d'Alès in Cévennes. A decision which comes by mutual agreement according to the publication of the Alesian club. Arriving at the dawn of his 21st birthday at the start of the 2020-2021 season, he ends up definitively establishing himself as number one the following season, where he will make rain or shine in the Alesian cages, hanging moreover the rise to National 2 in the summer of 2022. More recently, the goalkeeper had been relegated to the bench by Yanis Maamouch, his number 2 who arrived this summer, even if the relationship between the two men always remained very cordial during training. “I gave everything with great respect and humility from year to year. I conveyed to the supporters my message of recognition and gratitude towards them. What they have done and what they are doing to we, I leave with a light heart”comments the player full of emotions. If its destination is not yet known, it should be known shortly.
USAM
Tebib stops… the NHL. On February 4, David Tebib will officially end his mission as president of the National Handball League. “I no longer wish to continue, I will turn the page”confides the president of USAM. The latter will have chaired the body for three years over two distinct periods. A first interim period of 15 months from August 2020 to November 2021, succeeding Olivier Girault, who left to run for a position as president of the FFH. Nîmes then took over from Bruno Martini in January 2023. In a complicated context, because the president then in place had been forced to resign after being convicted of corruption of a minor. After two intense years, David Tebib wanted to take a breather. “I will be even more motivated for USAM and then I have adventures which will start in a few months which will take time”confides the one who is also president of the National Association of Professional Sports Leagues until 2027.
Dakar
Gardois Valentin Sarreaud and his pilot Christian Lavieille • Photo DR
Sarreaud it's over. For Bagnolais firefighter Valentin Sarreaud, the 2025 Dakar adventure ended this morning in Saudi Arabia. The Gardois and his driver Christian Lavieille were forced to abandon before the start of the 9th stage, four stages from the end of the event. “It is with great disappointment that we must announce our abandonment at the dawn of this 9th stage. A new engine problem forced us to stop there this time, despite all the efforts and hard work of the MD Rallye Sport team. We were leading our T1.2 category before our problems yesterday, and we leave this edition with the regret of not being able to complete this rally and defend our chances of victory. We will come back stronger”indicated on Instagram Christian Lavieille. In the general car classification, the duo was 26th. Concerning the other Gard co-drivers, Adrien Metge is 10th in today's stage and 19th in the general classification. His brother Michael is 105th. On the motorbike, the two Sherco representatives follow each other: Lorenzo Santolino is 11th and two minutes ahead of his Portuguese teammate Rui Gonçalves. Even if it won't be easy, both drivers can aim for the top 10, which would be a great performance for the Nîmes manufacturer.
