Finally! After seeing - helplessly - his first two preparation matches canceled due to positive cases of Covid-19 among his opponents (Evreux and Orléans), Nanterre should finally play his first summer duel. This Wednesday at 5.30 p.m., Pascal Donnadieu's troupe is waiting for Châlons-Reims. A match that will be played in total closed doors but which will be visible on the club's Facebook account. Before this meeting Isaïa Cordinier - who was passing through this Tuesday at Insep for a day of exchanges between all the generations and teams of France - gives her feelings on the preparation of her team.
What is the state of mind before this first preparation match?
ISAÏA CORDINIER. Already we hope to play it. We keep our fingers crossed until tomorrow (Wednesday) to hope that there are no positive cases in a team. After this match is the opportunity to see what we are worth even if it is only a first match of preparation and that we still miss a player (the leader Dwight Buycks). We work well but nothing beats a game to really learn to play together.
You are undergoing special preparation ...
Yes it is a particular context, we suspected it and we are not disappointed. We move forward from day to day knowing that everything can be called into question at once. But we do with it, we don't really have a choice.
Many teams have been hit with cancellations of friendlies due to Covid-19, are you worried about the championship?
I don't know if to worry or if it's a bad sign for the season. It also depends on what will be put in place as health measures, we will also see how it will go when we play the European Cups ... if we can play them. There are a lot of unknowns but it's the same for everyone. We try to control what we can. The rest…
Are health measures difficult to live with?
No we adapt. Once again, we have no choice. We have finally been able to find the locker rooms before and after training. Access was prohibited for the first few weeks. We have to wear the mask when we arrive at the sports hall, we only remove it when playing. The coaches keep it all the time. We wash our hands with the hydroalcoholic gel as often as possible, as soon as there is a break in training or when we quench our thirst. The balls are disinfected after each session. We do PCR tests every week, 48 hours before a game. With the European Cup, it will be twice a week… Everything is done to reduce the risks and that the championship can resume in the best conditions.
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Are you worried about the championship being held?
I don't think too much about it. Even between us, we don't really broach this subject. We're all happy to be able to play again. I missed basketball. I am happy to find the game, the partners, an almost normal life of professional basketball player. We prepare as best we can.
You have been named team captain, what does that mean to you?
It is a mark of confidence from the coach and the club, especially since I am only 23 years old. Now it's up to me to rise to the occasion and respond on the pitch.
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