With twenty points in twenty-two matches, NVB is second to last in the championship, only ahead of Saint-Brieuc in the number of wins despite having equal points. This situation was unthinkable a few months ago. The players, led by French international Xavier Kapfer, believed in their chances: “We will save ourselves; we are convinced of it,” they insisted to anyone who would still listen at the end of December. Tomorrow, they will host Poitiers in their Palmeira hall. But they are not afraid. Having recently drawn with the top two teams, Cannes and Paris, the Nice players can reasonably hope for a favorable outcome against the current third-place team in Pro A.
12 points in four matches, two at home against the third-place team, Poitiers, on Saturday at 8 p.m., and the fourth-place team, Toulouse, on April 14 at the same time; two away against the eleventh-place team, Asnières, on Tuesday the 10th at 8 p.m., and the ninth-place team, Rennes, a week later. That’s what remains for NVB to pull off a genuine feat, staying among the elite fourteen clubs.
Jean-Michel Roche wants to take “as many points as possible” and does not hesitate to speak of an “advantage” when discussing the pressure surrounding his players. The Azurean coach is confident before tomorrow’s match and hopes to spring a trap on Poitiers. Having led the team since early January, the man who also managed Cannes is trying to “work on the group, on the atmosphere so as not to have made so much effort for nothing.”
He explains his team’s form due to the return from injury of key players like Pascal Ragondet, the libero, and attacker Onya Opota, who is having a great season. He sought to establish certain rules on player behavior and speech on the field, “explaining that each player had a real value on the field and that they had to stop minding the neighbor.”
NVB is fighting for its survival today and is counting on the public, “loyal even if it is small in number, so I want to thank them,” the coach reminds. President Alain Griguer still regrets that “they are not present enough in these difficult times, hoping they will turn out in much larger numbers” starting tomorrow.
After a successful February including a 3-0 victory at Tours, a recent Champions League finalist, and a close 3-2 loss to Paris at Palmeira, the whole club hopes that the “gamble” Jean-Michel Roche took in early January “was not as crazy as it sounds,” as the Nice coach likes to remind.
He also hopes that “the two visitors who will come to Palmeira will play completely relaxed, as they are almost certain to be in the Play-Offs,” and he counts on the fact that his players are “uninhibited” to believe in two beautiful victories.
Alain Griguer expects a “difficult match against a good Poitiers team” this weekend even though his players “played on par with Cannes and Paris, so there is no reason we can’t achieve something on Saturday.” Less enthusiastic than his coach who officially aims for four victories in as many matches, the Azurean manager suggests that this ending would be “too good” but “two would already be fine.”
On the other hand, he agrees with his counterpart when asked about the reasons for his hopes still being present even in the difficult mid-season moments since there is “a team and quality players” so “no reason it shouldn’t work out.”
The four remaining matches for the Nice club to stay up are akin to as many cup matches. The talent is there; all that is needed is a bit of luck and support to pull off a great feat.
Come support NVB and discover high-competition Volleyball in a great spirit. They need you as no other team is playing at the same time in Nice.
So plan your Saturday evening and see you at 8 p.m. in the Palmeira hall (next to Gambetta).
For more information, visit: [https://www.nicevolleyball.fr](https://www.nicevolleyball.fr)
