Habib Bamogo wants to play and be happy. This is the main reason for his move to Nice. The discussion with Frédéric Antonetti, the coach of OGC Nice, was decisive: “We met with Frédéric Antonetti. It’s better to have direct contact. I felt things were right. Everything was in place for me to be motivated. With the coach, we had the same expectations on both sides.” The former number 26 of OM joins the Côte d’Azur on a one-year loan with a three-year purchase option. It’s a four-year contract in disguise. After being temporarily with FC Nantes and then Celta Vigo in Spain last year, Habib Bamogo wanted to settle at a club from the beginning of the season and leave behind the Olympien episode: “Marseille wasn’t a success but not a failure either. I was young when I signed with Marseille and it was hard to refuse OM. I learned a lot of things and in a career, there are always tough moments.” The notion of pleasure is very present in the words of the former youth international: “Football must be a pleasure on the field and in life, and here everything is brought together […] I’m looking to play, to feel good, and to bring my family into a good environment. If you feel good in your mind, there’s no reason you wouldn’t feel good on the field.” The one nicknamed Bam-Bam or Bamogol doesn’t set specific goals. He scored 16 goals during the 2003-2004 season with Montpellier but does not mention any figures regarding the number of goals he hopes to score against opposing nets: “I’m not looking to have the same season as in Montpellier. I’m a forward and you have to score goals, but you have to blend into the team’s play: scoring, defending, making assists.” In Nice, Habib Bamogo will reunite with Matt Moussilou, whom he’s known since the age of 15, and Rod Fanni (if he stays and it seems unpromising) whom he met in the Youth selection.
President Maurice Cohen and Sports Director Roger Ricort are satisfied with their offensive recruit from the transfer market meant to replace Marama Vahirua and David Bellion who left for the Atlantic Coast, respectively to Lorient and Bordeaux. “He has already proved things in Ligue 1. He finds a family context in Nice. We feel he is motivated and we support him in taking this gamble,” explains Roger Ricort. The gamble is to ignite the Stade du Ray as he was able to ignite the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier and on a few occasions the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. Will the gambit pay off for the Parisian Bamogo? The answer will come on August 4 at the Stade Michel d’Ornano in Caen.
Gym Info:
LAST MINUTE: An agreement has been found between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais for the transfer of Rod FANNI, who is expected to sign for a duration of 4 years. The transfer amount has not been disclosed.
Yahaya, 3 years in Nice
Ghanaian national team defender under 20s, YAHAYA Mohammed, has been transferred from the Ghanaian club Tema Youth to OGC Nice for a duration of 3 years.
Kamel Larbi to Ajaccio
Offensive midfielder Kamel Larbi was let go by OGC Nice. He is set to sign with AC Ajaccio (Ligue 2).
Shirt Sponsor
On the back of the Red and Black shirt, under the number, the name Groupe PIZZORNO, a company managing industrial household waste, will be printed throughout the season, previously positioned on the sleeve.
It’s heating up between Cohen and Fanni!
Rod Fanni left the training camp unhappy that the negotiations for his transfer to Rennes are dragging on. Maurice Cohen, angered by the Niçois wingback’s ultimatums, canceled the meeting scheduled with Rennes’ leaders, which was supposed to take place Thursday at 4 PM in Cannes.
Friendly matches
– July 21 in Royan against Bordeaux
– July 27 in Nîmes against Nîmes
– July 28 in Le Touquet against Lille
