Timiona Asen's protégés will compete this Saturday (9 a.m. in Tahiti) on the 8the tour of the Coupe de France in Normandy. On the eve of this “historic meeting”, the team deprived of two starters, including its goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia, will have to face two opponents. Of course, there are the players from Dives-Cabourg, but above all the cold. The match, which was originally scheduled to be played at 6 p.m., was postponed to 8 p.m. by the opposing team. A “good war” decision according to the coach, who is crossing his fingers that the rain doesn’t come either.
After having given Avranches players a heatstroke, AS Dragon fears a cold snap. Newly installed since Wednesday in Normandy, in the small town of Houlgate, in Calvados, the Tahitians are trying to acclimatize as best they can. “It’s very cold, but it’s not raining. Tomorrow – Saturday – the forecast calls for rain in the morning, but I really hope it doesn't rain in the evening”confides Timiona Asen.
It must be said that in the region, current temperatures can drop to 2°. A climate which immediately gives the advantage to the Dives-Cabourg players, “accustomed to playing their championship in the cold”. The team coach explains that he pays particular attention to his players: “I'm behind them to make sure that they don't wear slippers, but shoes and socks, that they put on their jackets when going out… They need to be warm to avoid getting sick before the match. » This meteorological factor can weigh heavily in the balance, as was the case for the Avranches team, which lost on 7e round of this Coupe de France during a match scheduled for 2 p.m. in Pater. But Titioro's team is confident.
We will have to do without Jo Keeper
However, she is preparing to play this match without two of her starting players, defender Tutahiti Rereao for administrative reasons and goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia, held back by his professional obligations. “There is no particular strategy, my football is always pressing. I haven't changed my method here… It's just the climate that's different. The pace is also not like in Tahiti, for us it’s a bit slow, but I have confidence.”
