the essential
Rodez has experienced a year full of emotions which ends this evening in Clermont. Building on their momentum, the Ruthenois can believe in a favorable final against a relegated side from Ligue 1 in uncertain form.
It will soon be time for Raf to close its 2024 chapter. It has been written with generosity, self-sacrifice, taste for risk, rage and strong emotions to establish the greatest achievement in the history of the club, 4th in the League 2 in the spring and stopped just two steps from the elite during the play-offs. This prosperous year has changed the image of Raf by proving that it can aspire to better than playing for maintenance in L2. It also confirmed the merits of coach Didier Santini, who re-enchanted the blood and gold by imposing an attractive game, and recalled the know-how of the sports management and technical staff, one having the flair in relaunching young players that not many people trusted, before the second put these talents to good use, in the service of a collective with asserted playing principles.
Even with a largely renewed squad at the end of the record-breaking season, the Ruthenians were able to stay the course. The beginnings were certainly bumpy, the time to refine the overall cohesion and find the automatisms, but Akim Abdallah's troupe seems well and truly launched this time. When she goes to Clermont this evening for her final meeting of the year, she presents herself with an invincibility in the championship extended to eight matches thanks to the success acquired against Pau last week (1-0), as well as than a presence in the first part of the table, for the first time this season. “It’s good, but I tell myself that we have to do much better”slipped Didier Santini with ambition.
Nkada probably too fair
The lights are therefore green among the blood and gold. They are only mitigated by bad news from the infirmary, since Timothé Nkada, the second top scorer in the championship, could still be missing. A thigh pain had deprived him of the match against Pau, and as the Rennes-trained striker trained away from the group throughout the week, this does not bode well for his participation this evening, even if it is in a larger group. This time he could be replaced by Tawfik Bentayeb, scorer against the Béarnais.
For the rest, Didier Santini will be able to count on the returns from suspension of Lionel Mpasi and Loni Laurent. They should regain a starting place, even if Ahmad Ngouyamsa provided a convincing interim in defense. “There’s competition, that’s good. It gets everyone moving, it makes them work. That’s what I’m waiting for”appreciates the coach.
He hopes that this emulation will preserve the good dynamic of his team, which will change after its trip to Clermont over a period of three weeks without a match. So, we might as well make sure during this last meeting, in order to consider the future with ambition. And to stay in the tone of an exceptional year.
