Clemence Chauvin /CRCPHOTOGRAPHY Facebook
Before the meeting between the FC Bressuire and the Girondins de Bordeauxcounting for the
7th round of the Coupe de Francewe spoke with Samir Bakirthe coach of the Regional 1 club. A very nice exchange with a person who took charge of the team at the beginning of October. Journey, experience as a young retired player, epic Coupe de France, goals, Girondins, emotional match… Samir Bakir speaks with passion in this interview.
You were appointed head of Bressuire and took office on October 1st. Can you tell us about your arrival at the club?
I had just finished my mission at the Racing Club de Cholet, the club where I started coaching. I had just finished my career at Lusitanos. So it was a good first experience with a move up to R1. Afterwards, for various reasons we preferred to separate after the climb. I was looking for a project that lived up to, quote, my ambitions. I applied to FC Bressuire who were looking for a coach because their coach was leaving for Saumur, an opponent of the Girondins. They contacted me, I was interviewed, it went really well, great feeling but in the end, they chose another coach. There were two of us dancing at the end. They took Julien (Chevalier) but apparently it didn't go very well and they simply called me again at the end of September just to talk. As soon as Julien left, they called on me and I responded favorably. It's a good project, today it's a healthy club, it works well. There is a past in N3 so there are ambitions. It's a good little R1 club.
You have a past as a good player with experiences in Libourne, Martigues, Pau, Cholet, Laval, Bergerac among others, before ending your career with US Lusitanos. Do these experiences serve you in your young career as a Coach?
Of course ! With this experience I met quite a few coaches so we take what we like, we leave a little. Obviously, this experience as a player means that we meet a lot of people and ultimately a lot of methods. We choose one that we like, that speaks to us. Of course, experience does. So these are two totally different professions, player or coach, but knowing that we work with a lot of coaches on a career. We automatically have skills. Afterwards, there are the diplomas that go with it so training is important too. If I have diplomas? Yeah, I have my BEF which I took in New Aquitaine in Puymoyen. The exam took place in Haillan so I know New Aquitaine well.
Bressuire is currently 6th in Regional 1, 5 points behind leader Thouars, but with a game in hand. Priority to the championship or epic in the Coupe de France?
There is no priority. Today we have a workforce to do both. We are a little frustrated with the ranking. With great humility, we remain with a draw and a defeat but clearly we must have the six points. But football is sometimes unfair (smile) and unfortunately we didn't take the points. It's unfair compared to the content and performances of my players. We should have had the points but unfortunately that's how it is. We certainly made mistakes too. We didn't bend the opponent when we should have done so and that's it. It happens to any team (smile). You too, in terms of points you would have deserved to take more or perhaps less. It really just depends on each weekend.
Your epic Coupe de France with Bergerac in 2022 made noise by leaving Metz in 1/32nd or even Sainté in 1/8th. Are you going to use this experience against Bordeaux?
It's a different story, it's totally different. Even if there are similarities in the sense that there were three levels of difference at the time, here there are two. But of course that experience, in terms of motivation and in terms of emotion, we have to say a word to our players. In terms of experience, above all, I want them to simply be players in the match. I want them to play the match so as not to have any regrets.
Are you going to face the Girondins de Bordeaux, a sort of nice arrival gift?
It’s a great gift (smile). I told the boys to go for an emotional match and inevitably, we couldn't be better served (smile). It's going to be a big first. Even if today the Girondins de Bordeaux club had extra-sporting administrative problems, which meant that they were demoted to this level, it remains the Girondins de Bordeaux, with an incredible track record. It’s the Gigis!
How do we approach this type of meeting against a team with a historic past?
With a lot of desire obviously (smile). With great desire. We don't play the Girondins every day. They are in N2 today but I ignore the level at which they are playing today. There are football monuments like Andy Carroll, and not just him. We have an experienced coach who is, for me, a top coach. I follow him and see what he does. Even when he interacts on TV sets, what he does speaks to me. His teams are organized, they do poorly. He simply remains a top coach. If it's a coach who could inspire me for example? Totally, totally! Today, in terms of percentage of victories, if I take his years when he was in Pau, in Quevilly… Maybe I have shortcomings, I obviously am, but in N1 I did not experience a coach who made a climb with Pau, who left for Quevilly and who made another climb the following year. Or maybe Mister Robin. So for me it's an honor to simply be able to rub shoulders with this kind of coach. It will be a great experience, in any case I will come out of it grown no matter what happens.
You will play in front of your audience, which will undoubtedly be numerous. Will there still be a speech or will the players naturally be ready for this kind of poster?
The motivation will already be there in relation to my players, unless I am wrong. When we played a Ligue 1 (with Bergerac against Saint-Etienne in 2022), I am from Saint-Etienne as well so my motivation before the match was on an incredible scale. So my players, I don't think they will need motivation. In any case what is certain is that I will add a layer (laughs) for this story. It is certain that in the speech I will make a speech about that.
Bordeaux could rotate, as in the last rounds. Do you have the objective of bringing down the Girondins at all costs or will it be more of a notion of pleasure for your players?
I take pleasure when I win (smile). When we start a match it is to win it. Of course there will be the notion of pleasure but we are clearly going to sell our skin dearly. Then with a lot of humility, if we manage to achieve a perfect match, why not the feat. But today, with great humility, if we pass it will be an incredible feat.
In their past, I know that they still made a 1/16th final of the Coupe de France. It's already beautiful. They also did a 1/32 scale so that's already good. I don't remember the route but I think it was against Sochaux that they were knocked out in 1/16th. I don't have their track record if they released big cars but in any case today we clearly are not going to play an N2. In relation to the name and in relation to the squad, we do not play an N2.
Bordeaux has a squad that has, in quotes, nothing to do in National 2…
Exactly, but that's somewhat normal. It's like the descent of Strasbourg at one point, who went up to Ligue 1. Clearly, when they were in National, they did not have a National squad. Every year, if Bordeaux manages to reach the next level every year, it will be like that. After a while, they have to manage to return to the elite of French football. In any case, that’s what I wish for them. This is a situation that happens more and more. There are quite a few clubs, especially big clubs, in difficulty. In our region we saw Niort which fell to R3 and which was still a coherent Ligue 2 club. Afterwards, we are not on the same scale as the Girondins… It happened to Cholet too (fallen from N1 to R3 this season). There are many…
What can we wish you for the future?
To have the best possible season. Like I told you, I'm a competitor. I am an ambitious person, so already, to achieve the club's objectives, that is to say to play the leading roles if things go well at the end and we are on target. Then why not a little epic in the Coupe de France. The Coupe de France is for me the most beautiful competition. I can tell you about it in relation to my experience, what I went through. If there is an epic, so much the better, we will go to the end in any case.
Many thanks to Samir Bakir for his availability and kindness.
