Uncontested leader of its National 1 group, Cavigal Nice Handball takes off today for Limoges, where it is set to compete in the playoffs for promotion to ProD2.
Finish the job. This, summed up in three words, is the challenge that awaits Cavi’s players this weekend. Having had an almost perfect season (only one defeat in the 22 league matches), the men of Eduardo “Edu” Fernandez Roura are just three matches away from the long-awaited promotion to Pro D2. In a mini-championship of four teams, during which they will successively face the leaders of the other two N1 groups (St Gratien and Caen) and the third-last of Pro D2 (Limoges), they will have only one objective: to finish in the top three!
On paper, the task may seem manageable; in reality, the battle promises to be ruthless. Facing teams brimming with confidence and sure of their strength, the people of Nice will need to score points right from the start to avoid the looming threat of the much-dreaded last place. Under these circumstances, tonight’s match against St Gratien already seems crucial. A victory would give the azure team a serious edge for qualification. But in case of defeat, especially before facing Caen and Limoges (the two supposedly “favorite” teams in these playoffs), things would become much more complicated.
More motivated than ever at the prospect of finally securing their ticket to the professional world (18 years after leaving it), the teammates of Captain Raphaël Tourraton are just minutes away from making history. A promotion that would reward not just a team but a club that has been working tirelessly for months, both on and off the field, to achieve its dream. Although no administrative certainty has been provided, one thing is clear: the leaders are working tirelessly to raise the necessary budget for the promotion to Pro D2. Will they succeed? The answer should soon be forthcoming, but first, it is on the field where things will be decided.
