Pétanque. The Pétanque Club de la Vierge has enlisted the 2019 world champion Joé Casale
On this peaceful autumn Friday it is enveloped in a certain freshness, yet there is a scent of perfume in the small place on rue Jules-Méline that serves as a rallying point for the members of the Pétanque Club de La Vierge. What could be more logical. Because it is not every day that we manage the services of Joé Casale, a world champion, as well as Mickaël Goury, one of the references in the Vosges. For an entity that has only existed for four years and about forty licensees, this is a real challenge.
So at the time of the official initiation of this agreement through the administrative formalities that issue the federal license, a legitimate sense of satisfaction prevails: “I’m really proud that I succeeded in bringing them here. Being on the edge of field, we have made links. They value our project. We have ambition. We are at the departmental level according to the teams and we want to go up to the regional level. And then we want to put Epinal, which is a sporting city , back in the middle of petanque,” announced Messaoud Benchabane, one of the two vice-presidents with Eddy Pochet, the president, by his side.
“It’s a good challenge to accept”
Providing a positive image is also an important factor in the operation of the Club de la Vierge. It is not new to see Joé Casale perform in the Vosges. Last season, he defended the interest of Saint-Michel-sur-Meurthe. However, in the world of departmental pétanque, this news will inevitably stimulate conversations and be subject to all kinds of speculation. But the financial aspect is clearly not the argument that tipped the scales: “They are paid for mileage according to the tax scale. Everything is done in the rules. Anyway, there is an auditor to check all this. But it is normal that this question arises. Joé is someone who comes from Tomblaine, “explained Messaoud Benchabane while admitting that his club has a total envelope of 7,000 euros which is mainly made up of the contribution of private patron.
These considerations are not ignored by the main stakeholders: “This is the third club where I will play. It is a good team and it is a good short-term project. As long as you can contribute a thing, you have to do it. I’m also personally aiming for the French championships,” said Mickaël Goury. Although he is quiet on the field of play, Joé Casale wants to add his stone to the building from the height of his 20 years: “It is motivating to help a small club to set up and develop. It is a good challenge to accept. »
Now, we will have to wait for spring to measure the concrete effects of this collaboration, but Pétanque de la Vierge has done everything possible to find a place for itself in the sun.
The Casales in the power of three
For the Casales, pétanque is a family affair. This Friday, at the time of his signing at the club of the Virgin, it was a large delegation with Joé, the nugget.
Apart from Joé, there is the father, Romuald who is a well-known player at the regional level, and also Stéphanie the mother who is not far behind. Both will also be dismissed on the Virgin side. Knowing very well that his performances will be scrutinized in the land of the Vosges and that he always has a target aimed at him, Joé does not resent this kind of insidious pressure from the height of his 20 years: “It is not it bothers me. , it’s always the same. I’m used to it and it’s part of the game.”
