While the GF38 footballers will finally find their way back to the pitch this Thursday after a recovery placed under the seal of medical tests, we were able to speak with Amine Sbaï, first recruit announced by the Grenoble club this summer. The 21-year-old showed in Sète, in National, that he had gold in his feet. A talent to confirm.
The accent does not deceive. His enthusiasm, despite the heat wave that is hitting the capital of the Alps at the moment, either. ” I’ve had worse heat in the south smiles Amine Sbaï.
The 21-year-old young man, who is still living at the hotel for the moment while waiting to find his next place to live, is a pure Gard product, who fell into football when he was young, notably with two older brothers, Salaheddine and Hatim. who were professional. ” My whole family is football! We are 5 brothers, we all play. As far as I’m concerned, I started at the age of 5 and I stayed 10 years at Nîmes Olympiques before leaving for U17. In U19 R1 first year I played in Vergèze before joining Castelnau-le-Crès in U19 Nat with Cyril Jeunechamp as coach. »
The young Sbaï is illustrated there, already demonstrating technical qualities well above the average. He joins Alès in N3, for his first Seniors experience. He evolves there for two seasons truncated because of the Covid but despite everything accomplished on a personal level. ” We were able to play only 15 games the first year and then only 6 in the league the second. Fortunately during the latter we had a good run in the Coupe de France going up to 16th final against Montpellier. »
With 5 league goals for his first N3 season then 9 goals in 11 starts (cup and championship combined), at not even 20 years old, Sbaï is not lacking in solicitations. If a test in Valenciennes (Ligue 2) does not succeed, he finds his place at FC Sète in National last season.
« A season during which we achieved our collective objective even if it was complicated since we waited until the last day to maintain ourselves. But it was ultimately like our team that never gave up, that got a lot of points in the last minutes of games throughout the season. From a personal point of view I felt good in this championship that I was discovering and I think I had a good season even if I am very demanding and I always think I can do better. »
The Sétois, who scored 6 goals and delivered 3 assists in 29 appearances, is in any case part of the revelations of the season. Beyond his stats, his ability to eliminate and accelerate the game mark the spirits.
The National can only be a springboard for the player. Despite the interest of Ligue 1 clubs (the name of Lorient has been mentioned), it is therefore towards the GF38 that Sbaï has chosen to go. ” I had touches higher, but my goal was to go to a club where I could have a chance to play. Of course, we are never sure of playing, it is up to the player each time to earn his chance, but it is easier to find a place for a young player in Ligue 2. And why Grenoble? Because the feeling was good, I liked the project presented to me by Max Marty. It also went well when I was able to speak with the coach. Last season was more complicated but the GF38 finished 4th the season before. We have enough to do great things this season. »
And Sbaï hopes to bring its stone to the building. To get to know him better, we asked him to tell us about his favorite position and his qualities/defects. ” I am a fairly technical player, with a developed palette. I like 1 on 1, I think that’s my great strength. On the progress there is power, especially now playing in Ligue 2, and efficiency in front of goal but at my age I consider that I can and that I must still progress absolutely everywhere. For the position I can play in 10 but I am above all a player who evolves off center on the left. I’m right-handed so I like to come home. »
The 21-year-old also has the maturity to know that it is not in a solo number that he will be able to flourish and find a place in this new championship that he is discovering… “ I hope to have a great and good season together, that we get along well, that we can feel pleasure together and give it to our supporters. If these ingredients come together, it should be a good year. »
In the meantime, the player is eager to find ” a real recovery this Thursday after 3 days of medical tests. Find the ground. Retry the ball. And be discovered by your new audience. Amine Sbaï is in front of his new white page. It is now up to him to amaze us.
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