The time for retirement has not yet come for Céline Dumerc.
The Basket Landes player has indeed decided to leave for one last dance under the colors of the club she joined five years ago from Bourges, Basket Landes.
At 39, the passion of "Caps", which still runs at 9 points, 39% away, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 interceptions of average in the French league, is still intact. .
His flame too.
“The symbol of finishing the Landes department at 40, that's what rocked my decision.
It's a nice wink, it will be my 20th season in the Women's League, it's a round count, ”she had fun this Friday at a press conference.
Dumerc let "speak his heart"
Yet his decision was made.
She had said so.
Certainly, Dumerc often indulged in a "maybe" when she spoke of her retirement, at the end of this 2020-21 season, before joining the French Basketball Federation (FFBB).
In fact, she is already at the "Fédé", with this role of General Manager of the Blue, since May 2020. But it is only the fools who do not change their minds ... Above all, the leaders have found the words fair.
“It was not obvious, it was not immediately clear in my head.
When I saw these three loustiques (the president Marie-Laure Lafargue and the vice-presidents Pierre Dartiguelongue and Audrey Lacroix, editor's note) arrive at the house, it was a bit like the remake of five years ago, explains- she does.
If they had not come to see me to suggest that I resign, I would have stuck with my decision to quit.
My first feeling was that I don't like to change my decision.
But over the minutes, seconds, when you think and let your heart speak ... "
And the 2009 European champion continued: “I am lucky and we have the chance to experience incredible emotions in top-level sport, even more in this club and with this team.
The desire to play is still there.
In fact, it will always be there… (…) As long as my body and my head and my legs allow me to continue, I have to go, because when I stop, I will not be able to go back. "
One of the best French and European players of the last 20 years
There is the love of the game, and the love of Basket Landes too.
Because the idea of helping this club also weighed heavily in the balance.
“We have found Céline Dumerc's replacement.
It will be… Céline Dumerc ”, smiles President Lafargue, who admits that the club was in a hurry to find the woman capable of succeeding“ one of the best French and European players of the last 20 years ”.
“I love this club so much, I feel good there, I still want to bring, says Dumerc.
I wanted to be able to lend a hand in a particular situation. ”
And more selfishly, it allows Céline Dumerc to have "an additional chance" to end her career in front of something other than empty rooms, even if no one is in a position, at the present time, to affirm that the public will be able to return to the edge of the parquet floors in 2021-22 ...
And for the French women's team?
“It's not going to change that much.
Maybe I was going to be engaged in additional missions if I had stopped.
There, it will remain practically in the same format as what I was able to do this season ”, notes the person concerned, serene.
This time is the last?
One thing is certain: beyond Basket Landes, it is all the hexagonal basketball that can be delighted to see this figure continue to chart its course.
This will be an opportunity to pay tribute to his career twice as much!
“I want to apologize to all the clubs who kindly thanked me with lots of gifts (laughs).
I cannot return them to you because they are already consumed, but thank you, I enjoyed it, she laughs, a little embarrassed anyway.
If you want to do it again next season I'm all for it, but I would understand if you didn't (smile). ”
On the way to one last dance, then.
Although, will it be the last?
“I am backing up.
For one year ?
I will no longer comment on the durations (smile).
I made a mistake in announcing my retirement so I won't do it again, ”she jokes.
Unfortunately for the current second in the Women's League standings, that was the only good news on the menu for this press conference.
Miranda Ayim, she does not seem determined to go back on her decision to hang up.
And this is not the only scheduled departure.
But with Dumerc, the basis is solid.
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