Instead of big stages, rectangular lawns. Instead of rock groups, an army of taller or smaller footballers. But other than that, youth tournaments are very much like music festivals. Dream sellers, especially for these amateur kids who rub the time of a meeting with the jerseys of PSG, Olympique Lyonnais or FC Barcelona.
Except that, for the second year in a row, it will be necessary, as for music fans, to leave in the cellar sound system and marquees. Traditional rendezvous for amateur clubs, the Easter weekend tournaments will never see the light of day. If the financial shock is less severe this year, because the cancellation could be anticipated before expenses are incurred, it is morally that the organizers toast.
After the flight of the licensees, that of the volunteers?
104 teams from the region, 1000 children, 3000 spectators… The Maladrerie tournament in Caen (Calvados) was supposed to take place this weekend of April 3 and 4. “This tournament is almost like a fair”, enraged Thierry Deslandes, the president of the club, who fears defections among the hundred volunteers, like the 15% of licensees less registered on the grounds at the start of the school year. last.
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“I can see it well, they are in good spirits without changing rooms, without a clubhouse, without refreshments,” he lists. And now without this tournament, which is supposed to unite the club. He still wants to remain optimistic, and thinks of those worse off still. “These indoor sports clubs, which have not had the chance to continue training outdoors with young people. For them, it will be really terrible ”.
“My best memories were playing big tournaments”
From the main scenes to the “consolants”, it’s a bit like the spirit of amateur football which is celebrated every spring between the first weekend in April and Pentecost. “I’ve never been a great player or even an average player, but my best memories were playing great tournaments. »Sébastien Arrouët founded in 1999 the MiniMondial d’Orvault (Loire-Atlantique). A meeting at the local start, which has recently become an international reference since it mixes local kids and European teams such as Juventus, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Barcelona or Manchester City.
Financially, he too plans to get by, year in and year out, thanks to the support of his private partners. He fears more the disaster which threatens his troops. Without its 200 men in the shadows, how do you run this “big machine” with an annual budget of 160,000 euros, which also acts as a travel agency because the big clubs are fully supported? “The hardest part will be to recreate a dynamic. We are at a stage where people are resigned, breaths Sébastien Arrouët. Everyone is afraid that it will not start again as before. For example, will the big clubs allow children to take the plane, and their families too? In December, he was still thinking of postponing until June, before finally giving up in the face of health constraints.
In Montaigu, the postponement bet
Michel Allemand hopes not to have to come to this. He made the bet to move his equally prestigious Mondial de Montaigu (Vendée) from August 16 to 22. The event has animated the region at Easter since 1973 and filled 3,000 rooms in hotels or holiday clubs for a week. This nursery of talents (14-16 years old) brings together eight nations and eight clubs in the men’s table, and four nations in the women’s table. Kylian Mbappé went there pell-mell under the colors of Monaco, Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal, Karim Benzema with Lyon, or even Didier Deschamps with the French selection, in 1984.
OGC Nice, Toulouse and Strasbourg have already confirmed their arrival, as have the French, Mexican and Algerian selections for men. But firm positive responses are still pending. “If the prefecture bans bars and public gatherings, we don’t go. It has no interest. It is for our sponsors that we are trying to maintain, but also for our 450 volunteers, insists Michel Allemand. Much of it is relatively old and retired, and two years in a row without a tournament would be a lot. “
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