The world of disabled Basketball and, more generally, basketball, mourns one of its most faithful representatives. Jérôme Mugnaïni died yesterday following a long illness, but which, in his case, took him away very (too) quickly, at the age of 63.
A former player, he is best known as the leading figure of Hyères handibasket (HHB). He has been the coach since the mid-90s. Then this summer he took on the role of general manager, while remaining very close to the pitch and the players.
Théry: “He was loved everywhere”
“If he wasn't there, there would no longer be a club. Hyères is in mourning, but so is the French championship because he was loved everywhere, testifies Jean-Luc Théry, president of the HHB and close friend. Jérôme was a lover of basketball and sport. He loved these balloons, these wheels, these armchairs, these boys. My team is going to be super sad.”
Effectively. When Nicolas Jouanserre, one of the oldest players in the Hyères group, heard the news, he remained stunned: “It's terrible, I'm devastated! We players knew he was ill, but we didn't think it was this bad. It's going to be hard and complicated for us to get back on the field now that he is no longer here, my thoughts are with his family and loved ones, it’s horrible!”
Jérôme Mugnaïni is associated with another club: OS Hyères (one of the ancestors of HTV). In the 80s, he was one “winger and an extraordinary shooter” (dixit Théry), a captain then a coach “who trained a bunch of young people, including my son, Jeff”.
Sciarra: “Like a big brother”
Basketball icon, Laurent Sciarra remembers “from a big brother”who took him under his wing when he arrived in Hyères at the age of 16. “Jérôme, I owe him part of my career and even more part of the man I have become: the manic side, the punctuality, the fact of being clean and making a good first impressionsays the Olympic vice-champion in Sydney, who remained close. We spent evenings discussing with him and Jean-Luc on many subjects.”
The two men also remember a boy who liked to take care of himself, attentive to the image he gave off. “He had an extraordinary mustache and a blow-dry every day”Sciarra smiled. “He was a playboy! The handsome boy, who knew how to behave wherever he went. And he was always kindremembers Théry. He was indestructible.”
Until this damn illness. Since November 23 and the meeting at Le Cannet, which he was unable to attend, this formidable and respected leader of men was bedridden and he weakened very quickly. Jérôme Mugnaïni will leave a big void behind him. Var-morning joins in the pain of his wife, Corinne, their daughter and their loved ones.
