We’re not surprised a few veterans are not on the team for this year.
Coach Blain went through a lot of challenges during and after the 2010 World Championship. Like Ngapeth’s suspension from the team due to his poor behavior during the World Champs, the retirement of captain Oliver Keiffer & libero Henno and just recently Pierre Pujol’s “Cold Hand Syndrome” which forced him to quit from his Italian club team, Sisley Treviso.
To Read More about France’s Drama, click THIS.
When asked on Ngapeth’s status, Blain stated that the outside hitter (also known as France’s best spiker at the moment) is still suspended and cannot compete but optimistic for their paths to cross in the near future.
On the other hand, the experienced Stephane Antiga has declined to speak about his future with the National Team.
Anyways, the past is past and Coach Blaine has moved on with a new set of players who are young but definitely gifted. These players will represent France in the 2011 World League and 2011 European Championship.
France’s 2011 Roster:
Setters: Yannick Bazin (Galatasaray ISTANBUL/TUR), Pierre Pujol (Sisley TREVISO/ITA), Toafa Takaniko (AS CANNES), Benjamin Toniutti (Arago de SETE)
Outside Hitters: Ludovic Castard and Xavier Kapfer (Fart KIELCE/POL), Baptiste Geiler (Arago de SETE), Julien Lyneel and Guillaume Quesque (MONTPELLIER Volley), Guillaume Samica (Iskra ODINTSOVO/RUS), Samuele Tuia (AZS OLSZTYN/POL)
Opposites: Antonin Rouzier (Stade Poitevin POITIERS), Marien Moreau (AS CANNES), Mory Sidibe (Noliko MAASEIK/BEL)
Middle blockers: Horacio D’Almeida (TOURS VB), Gary Gendrey (Tourcoing LILLE Métropole), Gérald Hardy-Dessources (AS CANNES), Franck Laffite (MONTPELLIER Volley), Romain Vadeleux (Lube Banca Marche MACERATA/ITA), Jean-Philippe Sol and Marc Zopie (Stade Poitevin POITIERS)
With this roster, we’re optimistic for France to display great volleyball against the best teams in Europe and in the world. They won the SILVER medal at the 2009 European Championship and was even a powerful force a few years ago.
Bonne chance!
Pingback: Stephane Antiga Retires...