The 2024-2025 season of Cavigal Nice Handball begins this Saturday, under the best auspices. After solid preparation, the club is poised to face formidable teams in Pool 4 of Nationale 1. The goal is set: to make it into the top 5 and lay the groundwork for promotion to the Proligue within three years.
A promising new season
Cavigal Nice Handball starts this 2024-2025 season in Nationale 1 with clear expectations and significant challenges. Placed in Pool 4, the club will face formidable opponents such as Montpellier Handball, USAM Nîmes Gard, and Chambéry Savoie HB, all reserve teams of Starligue or Proligue clubs. For Cavigal, this setup is both an opportunity and a challenge. “Our ambition is to aim for the top 5,” says Tanguy Mouchot, the team’s coach. “It won’t be easy against these reserve teams, but we have the potential to compete.” Cavigal also has a three-year plan, with the objective of returning to Pool 1 and ultimately joining the Proligue.
The club is therefore preparing to face teams well-versed at the highest level. Besides these four reserves from Starligue and Proligue, clubs like Billère Handball Pau Pyrénées and Annecy CSAV Handball, among others, round out the lineup of strong opponents.
Strategic reinforcements
To achieve these goals, Cavigal has intelligently strengthened itself during the off-season. Five major recruits have been added to the squad, offering valuable depth and versatility to the team. Kristian Vassilev, from Massy (Proligue), Luca Luiset and John Nkonda (both from Cournon, Proligue), bring crucial experience. Dylan Lopez, who played at Draguignan (Nationale 1), and Carlos Robles (Bagnols, N2) also complete these reinforcements.
These recruits were essential, especially as the club registered three significant departures. Kelian Bique joined Thionville (N1), Adrian Ruiz Carpio returned to Spain, and Oscar Mainar continues his career in Monaco (N2). Despite these departures, the technical staff remains optimistic about the human resources available.
Successful preparation despite injuries
The preparation for this season was marked by four friendly matches that allowed the team to be evaluated. Nice won three of these encounters, against Antibes, Martigues, and Draguignan. “These victories show that we managed to meet the physical challenge posed by stronger teams like Martigues and Draguignan,” explains Mouchot. However, the team experienced a defeat in its second matchup against Draguignan.
Unfortunately, two players will not be available for the first match of the season due to injuries. Additionally, another key team member is still recovering from a torn ACL sustained last February.
The first match, a real test
Cavigal Nice Handball will therefore kick off its season on Saturday with a first match that promises to be decisive against Chambéry. Facing one of the Starligue reserves will be an important initial test to assess the solidity of the group.
The team anticipates high-level opposition but remains confident after its successful preparation. With long-term goals in place, the Nice team must begin this season convincingly. “Our short-term goal is to position ourselves in the top 5, but this is just the beginning. Within three years, we hope to be in a position to compete for promotion to the Proligue,” they state.
A three-year ambition, a structured project
Cavigal Nice Handball does not hide its ambitions. This 2024-2025 season is meant to be a springboard towards a larger project, aiming to enter the Proligue in the coming years. “We have a long-term vision. This year, we want to lay the solid foundations of this project,” declares Mouchot. If the team manages to stabilize itself in the top 5 of its pool, it will allow them to structure and prepare for future seasons calmly.
