Handball. Firmly clinging to the top 5, Caen HB will have a great holiday

See my news
Follow Sport in Caen

The race to maintain last season seems a long way off. The 2024-2025 financial year is much more positive for Caen Handball. With 19 points and eight winsthe Vikings will spend the holidays in the top 5 of Proligue, just one point off the podium. Cherry on the cake: they are undefeated at home since the start of the seasonone of the objectives of coach Sébastien Quintallet.

We want to remain undefeated at home, that's our goal. There is no weak team in our championship, we will have to be good every weekend.

Recruits who perform

Every week, the Proligue rewards the best players at each position. Several Caen HB players obtained a selection in “the 7 of the week” following great individual performancesoften leading to collective victories. In the exercise, it is Yannis Mancelle who is most often rewarded with three selections. The right winger was even elected player of the month for September in Proligue. Adam Gnago and Rayhan Zuzo, two other Caen HB recruits, were also recognized for their high-level performances by being selected in a 7 of the week.

As for the players who were already at the club last year, we can also cite the performances of Louis Tournellec and Jean-Emmanuel Kouassi. The first is also regularly selected each week among the best players of the past day. The second is simply the best Proligue goalkeeper since the start of the season. He displays more than 33% of saves made and 17 saves on average per match. A solid base from which Caen HB takes advantage to impose a high pace in transition.

A fiery atmosphere at the Palace

Since the start of the season, the other big strong point of Caen Handball it’s his audience. The club and the STAPS student office at the University of Caen joined forces to create a kop in a stand at the Palais des Sports. With around a hundred students at each matchthe sound volume is assured to support the Vikings. Little by little, the regulars of the room get caught up in the game and follow the encouragement and chants launched by the speaker and the kop. Against Cherbourg, the students even launched the festivities before even entering the stands. Smoke bombs in club colors, songs and banners were there.

As a result, winning at the Palais des Sports is even more difficult. Only Sélestat and Dijon, two teams on the Proligue podium, have managed to get a draw on the Vikings' pitch in this first leg.

Ambition on the return phase

The Vikings will now have a month's break before the start of the return phase on Friday February 7, 2025. The players will return to training at the beginning of January for prepare yourself physically and mentally to a return phase with high stakes. “It’s very important to rest,” explains Sébastien Quintallet. We've been at full tilt since July 22, so we're going to cut it completely for a few days. »

When we return to the field, the schedule will be busy for the Vikings. They will be opposed to two podium teams by first receiving the leader Frontignan before going to Dijon a week later. The playoff objective by positioning itself at the very top of the table will go through a return phase as well negotiated as the outward phase.

Our team is also made to progress throughout the year, during the return phase. We want to qualify for the playoffs at the very top of the table. But it's far from over.

While waiting for the return to the Proligue pitches, the Caen Handball players will enjoy a few well-deserved days of vacation. But they will be very happy to meet again for continue all the good work done so far.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.