Benjamin Braux takes stock of mid-season

Fifteen days of the championship have passed, we are already halfway through the 2024-2025 financial year. Fifth in the championship, Benjamin Braux’s men have had a very positive first part of the season and are preparing to attack their future matches with enthusiasm. Here’s an update with our coach.

At the end of this first part of the season, Saint-Raphaël Var Handball occupies fifth place in the championship with 18 points. This is one more place and one more point compared to the previous year, at the same stage. Are you satisfied with this?

Benjamin Braux: « There is a real difference between this season and the previous one: last year, we had the impression of having overplayed in the first phase with numerous individual exploits and matches won “by a whisker”. Conversely, this year, we demonstrated more mastery and a well-defined playing identity. We even have the impression of having missed certain matches, that we could have done better! It’s a real difference, we still have room for improvement to go even further. »

Five victories in eight trips, notably on grounds which did not smile on us last season (Chambéry, Aix, Toulouse and Nîmes). How do you explain the very good dynamic of the away team?

« We had big, serious matches, regular, stable in our emotions and in our performance. We relied on a team game project and real collective strength.»

Is there a match in particular that you want to highlight? A turning point in the season?

« I don’t think there is a particular match to highlight. Continuity must be emphasized. We know where we want to be today and the hardest part is to continue to stay on this path.»

The club’s last Coupe de France semi-final dates back to 2004. The year will begin, precisely, with a trip to Limoges to aim for this place in the last four. Beyond the championship, is a Cup result an ambition?

« We want to write the history of this team. It’s going to be a complicated match on the pitch against Limoges, a great European team, but we’ll go with the desire to qualify and play hard! It’s a different objective from the championship but we set ourselves with the players to go as far as possible. With the Coupe de France, you never know what can happen. If we come through, we hope to receive a semi-final at home.»

Very good displays at home, long trips: how are you approaching this second part of the season?

« We will receive the entire top of the table. We will have to be more conquering at home, using the strength of the public to ignite these matches. For the away matches, we will go to teams, perhaps, a little less well placed but who will play something important (maintenance, rise in the ranking, etc.). We know what we did wrong last season, in the second half of the season, we learned and we are aware that we must not repeat the same mistakes. All matches are worth two points. The second part of the season is going to be very attractive.»

Finally, do you have a word for the supporters?

« Our job is to win matches and above all to share emotions with the supporters. We know that they do us well. A season is long, you have to be demanding but tolerant. We will do everything to bring you as much spectacle and happiness as possible. We want to give a good image of our team: a team that never gives up.»

The first two matches of the year at home:

Saint-Raphaël vs Istres | Fri. Feb. 14 – 8:30 p.m. | Online ticketing

Saint-Raphaël vs Paris-SG | Sun. March 2 – 5:00 p.m. | Online ticketing

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