© Iconsport
More than 2,200 places sold on Tuesday evening for FC Bressuire, demonstrating the enthusiasm for this seventh round of the Coupe de France. Sixth in Group A of Regional 1, the Deux-Sèvres club is preparing the arrival of the Girondins de Bordeaux. Its president, Stéphane Viault, spoke to WebGirondins about this special meeting for him.
WebGirondins: What was your reaction following this draw?
Stéphane Viault: We are rather satisfied with the draw, since, already, we are receiving and receiving a monument to French, even international, football. This requires organization, because there is a whole security aspect to put in place with federal obligations. It's very interesting, but also very energy-consuming, since you have to mobilize a lot of people, volunteers in the organization, to ensure that you have a great party at the club.
Approximately how many volunteers does this represent?
We will have between 100 and 150 volunteers.
Did the fact of having had a draw earlier than the other rounds make the organization easier?
I would say yes and no. No, because the validation of the schedule and the scheduling of the match were only validated this Friday at the end of the afternoon by the prefecture. Given that the reception or not of Girondin supporters is an additional consideration in terms of security. The authorities had to look into the subject and provide guidance.
And what's more, we will have a strong broadcast since France TV will broadcast the match live. So, for all these aspects, we had to come to an agreement with the authorities, with the Girondins with whom it went very well and so that the Federation could validate the match. These are beautiful celebrations, beautiful moments, and obviously, we want to welcome everyone in the best conditions.
Was the travel ban on Bordeaux supporters inevitable?
On this subject, it is the French Federation and the authorities who take control. We follow the conditions imposed on us from every point of view. Today, what I hope is that we have a great celebration at club level, at stadium level and that there is popular enthusiasm. We know that the Girondins will be represented, we know that they have local supporters, we are part of the same region. Above all, it’s about organizing a great football celebration.
“I am a fervent supporter of the Girondins despite the situation, which today is a little more complicated”
Personally, are you a Girondins supporter?
Yes, I experienced the years of Ligue 1, of the Champion's League, I went to Chaban to see Bayern, Maccabi Haifa and Juventus of Turin, I am a fervent supporter of the Girondins despite the situation, which today , is a little more complicated. However, today, my club is FC Bressuire, my heart club, my historic club.
Can you present your club and the squad?
FC Bressuire has around 540 licensees with a football and training school recognized in our league. We have a women's section which represents around a hundred girls divided between young people and seniors. And then, we have our flagship team in R1.
“For us, we had to bounce back from a new coach who arrived, Samir Bakir”
Can we find a local connection to the club among the players?
Yes, we are in a local, regional connection and training. We rely on the training of our young people to integrate them into our senior teams above. Some have had experiences in training centers. Above all, we are very regionally anchored with a desire to integrate our young people into our senior teams.
You changed coaches at the start of the season, what were the reasons for this decision?
We had a very long journey last season which ended with the accession play-offs which did not allow us to progress to the higher level.
Then the adventure started again with Julien (Chevalier). We know very well that there were obligations, it did not necessarily match with the group of players. So, Julien made the decision to take a step back and not let this situation tarnish even more. For us, we had to bounce back from a new coach who arrived, Samir Bakir.
“Of course, a headliner like Andy Carroll at the Métayer stadium in Bressuire is always nice”
Is the Coupe de France seen as a bonus?
Yes, I think that's a bonus. We have to put things into perspective, we are an R1 club. We don't have the same means as the Girondins. We want to organize a nice party. It remains a cup match where there will be popular enthusiasm. We want to look good and have a great party.
What type of team are you expecting this Sunday?
We care about ourselves, afterward, we'll take what's on paper, we won't have to choose too much (laughs). Of course, a headliner like Andy Carroll at the Métayer stadium in Bressuire is always nice. I don't know if he'll be there, but hey, we'll be taken care of.
This summer, apart from the Girondins, the Chamois Niortais also experienced a dizzying fall, has there been an impact from a local point of view?
Everything is impacted in these situations. We are all unhappy to see French football in this situation. We have nearby in our league, the Chamois Niortais and the Girondins de Bordeaux, and not even far away in another league, the SO Cholet. It's unfortunate to see teams at this level arrive in an economic situation which requires them to start lower.
We need large clubs of this type, because we are an intermediary between smaller neighboring clubs, without being pejorative, and professional clubs, so that our young people can still evolve and grow. For this, we need to have important clubs, like the Girondins or the Chamois, at levels higher than those of today.
This weekend there was the election of the League of New Aquitaine, do you have a reaction following the victory of François Grenet?
I sent a message to François Grenet to invite him to this great Coupe de France meeting. He may have a very busy schedule in that regard. But he is welcome at Stade Métayer.
Nathan Hanini
To read >> Gérard Lopez found guilty of complicity in the illegal exercise of the profession of sports agent
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