The French Torball D2 Men’s Championship concluded in Nantes. The reserve team from ANICES Nice went there to compete in the return phases, holding the provisional first place. Laval, close behind, was only one point behind. The stakes were clear: everything was still to play for.
Before taking off, the Nice team shared a final meal at Chez Garpo, a loyal partner. Christelle, the coach, was accompanied by her players: Bernard, François, Mirlind, Philippe, and Soulaymane. Jean-Pierre, the driver, took care of the trip to the airport. A departure scheduled for early evening, but delayed due to difficult weather conditions in the west of the country. The team arrived in Nantes early in the morning, around one o’clock.
Despite the lack of sleep, the Nice team started their day of competition with determination. The first test: the match against Laval, a direct rival for the title. A difficult start, but a great comeback in scoring allowed them to win 8-3. This victory set their rhythm.
A clear domination on the field
Match after match, the victories followed. Against VALM Rezé, the local team, Nice won 6-3. Facing Brest, it was a demonstration: 9-2. The match against La Réunion, although not included in the official ranking, ended with a score of 15-6. Finally, against the Parisian team Bien Hêtre, the Nice team concluded with a decisive win: 12-2.
At the end of these return phases, Nice finished first in the championship with 15 points. Behind, Bien Hêtre (9 points) secured promotion to D1, as the Nice reserve was not eligible due to the presence of the first team at this level.
The collective performances were solid, but some individuals also stood out. Mirlind scored 25 goals. Soulaymane followed with 15 goals, François scored five, Philippe four.
The Nice team left Nantes with four trophies: best offense, best defense, first place in the ranking, and a potential top scorer title for Mirlind, pending confirmation.
Next step: the French Cup
The season is not yet over for the Nice sports team. On July 5, they will head to Castelsarrasin to compete in the French Torball Cup, in both the men’s and women’s versions.
ANICES thus continues to proudly represent Nice’s disabled sports, with rigor, commitment, and consistency.
