This weekend, the OGC Nice women’s team will play a curtain-raiser for the Nice-Dijon match, which is part of the 8th day of Ligue 1. Focus on this section of the association, created in 2005, with Gaelle Mauduit, general manager.
Since when has the women’s section of OGC Nice existed?
The first women’s section of the association opened in 2005, but it was not a senior team, rather an under-16 team. Unlike other clubs, which start with the first team and build a team around it, training was at the center of our project from the outset. Once the girls reached the required age, the first team was launched, two years later. We do not recruit; the core of our team is our youth. The average age is 19 years old, by the way.
Has the squad been significantly changed this season?
Relatively little. There have been some departures for studies, in Montpellier or Belgium. There are good facilities, a sports management team, and a quality pitch, so if it’s possible, the girls stay at the club. We have a new coach, Stéphane Guigo, who previously coached the men’s team at La Trinité. This true Niçois was interested in the challenge of coming to coach the women’s team.
What are the goals for this season?
(She hesitates) Win all the matches! (laughs) There is no imperative for results. We play at the DH level, the 3rd division out of 4, which is fine. Our training policy comes first and foremost.
Aren’t the players feeling too much pressure ahead of this debut at Le Ray against Monteux?
We try to avoid putting too much pressure on them. But when France 3 came to do a report, they started to realize. They are young, and it’s the first time they will be able to play at Le Ray. It’s an opportunity for them to showcase football that is different from that of the boys. It would be interesting if the public came back to see us play at the plain complex after Le Ray, where usually they play in front of families and close ones only, that is between 20 and 50 supporters.
