“We can’t wait to do battle”: the Odyssey of Dives-Cabourg, a little thumb of the Coupe de France, continues in Cannes

The road is long to write its history in the French Cup. For the Su Dives-Cabourg, she makes eight laps, eight qualifications and 1,120 km, until this trip to Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes), this Wednesday, February 5, for the first eighth final in the history of the Calvadosian club . The “life match” for the resident of National 3, fifth echelon of French football, an “accessible, friendly club, pleasant to watch”, affectionately summarize Adrien and Stéphane, supporters conquered by this funny epic.

The little thumb of the test has this particularity, in eight rounds already crossed, of having faced only amateur clubs. So, when the draw has reserved for the Divi a trip to … Another amateur club, Cannes, hierarchically superior team that is more, “we were all disappointed, because we hoped to play against a big team,” sighs Jérémy , former house for 17 seasons. PSG, Lille or Brest shook a memorable evening at the Michel d’Ornano de Caen stadium (Calvados). To dream of it, it will therefore be necessary to overcome the Cannes obstacle, far from the fervor of the small stadium strikes Dives, “working -class city” nestled between Cabourg and Houlgate, “that we know more for their beaches and tourism” that for their football exploits, locate Adrien and Stéphane.

Last Friday, January 31, as an echo to the realities of the daily amateur football, the reds had to relocate their meeting on a synthetic field of the Normandy League in Lisieux (Calvados), with the handrail as a tribune. Because his stadium struck was… flooded. However, they were a few dozen to support the Calvadosians against the Corsican leader, Borgo, for a beautiful 3-2 victory, a few days from the big Cannes night.

“The team hotel is complete, because Divs have reserved in the same place”

After giving yourself the championship air, make way for the cup with a first feat, logistical this one. At the game of the 1,000 life-size terminals, the DIVES-CABOURG and its small means must get their hands on the portfolio. The trip to the French Riviera costs several thousand euros, between the train trip on Tuesday, two nights on site, as well as the current costs of the stay. Others have also set up the journey: supporters. They will be about 300 to encourage their protégés to Cannes, leaving Normandy the same morning of the match. “The team hotel is complete, because Divs have booked in the same place,” laughs Maxence, a volunteer and player of the reserve team. “The train costs around 150 euros per person, the accommodation 80 euros. We negotiate with the bosses to go. On the way back, some took the same train as the players. If we win, we will ambience the journey. »»

“It is a perilous, exciting journey, we can’t wait to do battle,” said coach Philippe Clément on Monday on Monday on the set from here Normandy. Getting out a training in National 2, Dives has already done so, in the previous turn. “The Puy-en-Velay had just beaten Montpellier (Ligue 1) 4-0. But we told ourselves that we had to believe it, ”recalls the bar team. Bingo. The executioners of the Héraultais were put to the carpet, 1-0, on January 14. A fortnight later, “we beat a good team from Borgo, which is close to a team from N2,” compares defender Erwan Koutele. “Even if we are disappointed with the context, far from our supporters, it is an eighth finals of the Coupe de France, so we will play thoroughly. »»

A giant screen will broadcast the meeting on the Cabourg racecourse. With the hope, for supporters who are not on the trip, to see the players said they were going on their big horses.