This weekend, female football players will be in the spotlight at the Ray, facing Monteux. However, for sports enthusiasts in general, you’ll have a wide array of choices: rugby, basketball, handball. This Saturday, you will have multiple opportunities to see women represent the city.
Let’s start with the OGC Nice female football players. After 6 years of existence, they are now taking center stage as a curtain-raiser to men’s football. For the event, the schedule has been reversed, with Monteux visiting Nice. Coming off a 2-1 victory on their usual turf at the Plaine complex against Etoile Aubune, they approach this match, no doubt with a bit of pressure as they make their first strides on the Ray’s pitch. It will be the first time for them that the audience extends beyond the close circle of family and friends.
The handball players, on the other hand, have no questions in their minds. They are leading the championship after 2 games. After starting with a bang against Angoulême 28-17, they increased this lead in Abbeville (30-18). Two victories exceeding 10 points, boasting the best defense by far (35 goals conceded versus 47 for their runners-up), they are comfortably at the top. They host Vaux-en-Velin at 8:30 PM in their Eucas hall, a team not very prolific in goals, starting timidly: a draw and a victory by the smallest margin. This game could turn into a defensive battle.
For those who are not keen, penny-pinchers, or those who want to witness the Niss’Angels’ debut at the highest level, the women from Nice play in Paris at 8:30 PM for the first day of LFB. An unexpected initiative means the first day of the women’s basketball elite takes place at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium to promote the sport in the capital. It will be an opportunity for Olga Tarasenko’s players to dive straight into the deep end in front of 4,000 people. Fans can watch the entire match on the LFB website, either live or on demand.
The local rugbywomen will also resume their championship tomorrow night against Nancy. A valiant team they overcame last year (17-5) in the wintry cold after a fierce battle. In the Division 2 pool, the Pitchounettes will face 6 teams: Nancy, Chambéry, Lyon, Dijon, Grenoble, Paris (in the order of the matches they will play). Meet at 8 PM at the Arboras, on Grenoble Road. Surely, between staying at the Ray for OGC Nice versus Dijon, and one of the 3 other women’s team sports, a tough decision will have to be made.
