Earvin Ngapeth’s return to Poitiers lights up the French volleyball championship

This Saturday evening, in Poitiers (Vienna), the supporters of Stade Poitevin Volleyball (SPVB) will certainly only have eyes for him. For the first time in thirteen years – and his departure from Tours – Earvin Ngapeth will return to the French championship, in a match against Narbonne (at 7 p.m.) for this first day of the 2024-2025 season.

A little over a week ago, the announcement of this return to French soil created a surprise and caused quite a stir. The official presentation by the SPVB of its workforce to its economic partners was coming to an end, Thursday September 19, when it appeared, flocked jersey of the n^o 86 on the shoulders. “You are not dreaming… Earvin Ngapeth will be fine on the 15th^e man this season »had published, at the same time, the club on its website.

Enough to shake up the little world of volleyball, as the 33-year-old receiver-attacker is a strong and emblematic figure in this sport. With the French team, this summer in Paris, he won a second Olympic title in a row, while being named best player of the Games.

“The opinions are unanimous. I receive messages from personalities from the championship to tell me that we have achieved a great successconfides Cédric Enard, the sports manager of the SPVB. Signing Ngapeth is the equivalent of recruiting (Kylian) Mbappé in football, or (Victor) Wembanyama at basketball. He is a world star, a top player, and also an element from the territory. This is very important to us. »

“A tidal wave”

It did not take long for the “Ngapeth effect” to be felt. Saturday’s match will be played to a sold-out crowd (2,468 seats). And a week ago, a simple friendly meeting, which normally attracts few spectators, brought together 2,300. A record.

“It’s a tidal wave, everyone is looking for a place for the match. We also sold 70 jerseys in two days, compared to 68 in two years before Earvin arrived.”exclaimed, on the eve of the championship match, Mickaël Pichon, community manager and volunteer photographer for Stade Poitevin.

In the days following the announcement, the club was overwhelmed by requests for meetings and had to schedule a second meeting for the media on Thursday. “It’s extraordinary to welcome a player of such caliber and we can see it”exclaims Cédric Enard, laughing.

“He is not a player like the others. We are very happy that he is hererejoices Charlotte Malbernard, chief supporter of Stade Poitevin. We knew he was going to come back, but not this quickly. It will put the spotlight on French volleyball and bring people back to the gyms. »

Possible departure in January

Having gone to play in Italy and Russia since 2011, Earvin Ngapeth ended last season with a cup-championship double with the Turkish club Halkbank Ankara. In July, he was close to joining Nantes-Rezé, before the club filed for bankruptcy. After the Olympic Games, he matured his choice after a vacation in Guadeloupe before realizing this “choice of the heart”as he calls it.

The call of exotic stables more able to offer him “best deal ever” that he said to wait until August 25, in a secret message published on Instagram, will finally wait. “After the Games, I was without a club and I needed a quiet seasondeclared the French international (249 caps). This might be the best time for it to happen. »

This decision brings him closer to his family, very established in Vienne. His mother still works in a company sponsoring Stade Poitevin. He himself passed through the ranks of the former CEP Poitiers during adolescence (between 2002 and 2007), like his brother Swan. And he also experienced Poitiers’ first French championship title from the sidelines, with his father, Eric, as coach.

“Earvin and I have known each other for a long time. I was trained by his father. When I was assistant coach of the France team [entre 2017 et 2019], we often talked about possible reunions around the club, one daysays Cédric Enard. It has become more serious in recent months, with my arrival in Poitiers in December 2023 and Earvin’s desire to get closer to his roots. »

Earvin Ngapeth will play with Poitiers (11^e of the championship last season) at least until the end of December, i.e. for a minimum of fourteen matches. If he signed a contract running until June 2025, it was, in fact, agreed that in the event of a lucrative offer from a foreign team – whose seasons resume in January 2025 – the two camps part ways well. friends. But, for now, Poitiers and the French championship want to capitalize on the image of the Olympic champion.