2023-12-06 07:32:27
One job, two schools. This Monday afternoon, the young goalkeepers from the PSG handball academy welcomed their “football” counterparts for a somewhat special session. At the Pierre-de-Coubertin hall (Paris 16th century), on the edge of Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), seven goalkeepers accustomed to football fields set out to discover another sport, its rites and habits.
A fun, good-natured exercise, which lasted almost two hours until we saw them having fun, all together, not wanting to leave each other when it was time to say goodbye. “It wasn’t just handball for the sake of handball. We came to look for things that could benefit us. And some did very well,” debriefs Nicolas Cousin, the U19 goalkeeper coach of the football section, who initiated the event.
Despite different reflexes, more focused on the ground when the handball goalkeeper grows his body to occupy maximum space in the cage, the young Parisian goalkeepers, aged 15 to 19, did not make a mark. They got into the game, following to the letter the instructions of conductor Patrice Annonay, a true legend of PSG hand, in charge of leading the training. “I would have to get the number of some people so that I can recruit them,” says the manager of the goalkeepers of the PSG handball first team with humor as he leaves the field.
“They show enormous courage”
It must be said that the young people from the training center, mixed between football and handball, displayed their seriousness until the end, not without great complicity. “A friendly side was built as the session progressed,” says Annonay. And for that, I can only thank Nico (Cousin) for having been at the origin of this meeting. With the pros, it’s very difficult to organize this kind of thing. But if, through young people, we can set an example for adults…” It is not said that Gianluigi Donnarumma and Andreas Palicka will cross paths soon, of course, but the idea is posed and deserves to be explored.
Patrice Annonay gave his advice to the young goalkeepers in the football section. Philippe de Poulpiquet
This meeting was an opportunity for these talents from the same club to see each other and exchange ideas. The same goes for the educators who, on the field, discussed their respective working methods at length. “We can highlight points to use in our sessions, the courage they can have on a shot from two meters with balls that arrive very quickly, the management of angles or even reflex stops,” explains Rudy Jeanne-Rose who arrived this summer as goalkeeping coach for the U17 team.
“They say that we, goalkeepers, are a little crazy, but then those of handball are even worse,” adds Louis Mouquet, last defense of the under-19s, Portuguese U20 international, who has already been around the group several times professional. Just seeing the speed with which the ball arrives, they show enormous courage. »
And now, judo, squash, padel or boxing…
Léo Villain, his 21-year-old handball player friend, also appreciated: “It was funny to see how they were able to adapt while keeping their football goalkeeper principles. I tried to give them advice but without insisting. We were there, above all, to support them. I see one again who, on a counter-attack, went to the ground on a low ball. It made me laugh because we would never have done that. And yet, he stopped it. »
An exceptional session organized in Coubertin, scene of the exploits of Nikola Karabatic’s team. LP/Philippe de Poulpiquet Philippe de Poulpiquet
After discovering the trampoline several weeks ago, and now handball, the educators of the PSG football section will continue to explore other activities. Work is being carried out to organize a meeting of the same type with the judo branch in the second semester. Other meetings, on squash, padel or boxing sessions are also among the projects of Nicolas Cousin and the supervisors, always with the aim of providing the Titis with something more in their discipline while allowing them to clear your mind. A real success.
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