FOOTBALL / INTERVIEW K. AMEWOU: “I WISH A LOT OF LUCK TO TOGOLESE’S ATHLETES DURING THE OLYMPICS”
Despite a challenging last season, during which the player found himself in greater demand by the reserve team rather than the club’s first team, Togolese midfielder Komlan Amewou did not follow through with his intention to leave Nîmes, as he had indicated last January. Since then, several significant developments have occurred, the foremost being the departure of coach Thierry Froger.
How do you feel as you approach the resumption of Ligue 2?
In contrast to last year, when I had limited playing time and the coach’s trust in me was minimal, I’m in a much better state of mind now. I have the opportunity to showcase my talent, and it’s up to me to demonstrate to both the coach and everyone else that I am capable of more. We’ll need to give our all on the field, of course. It’s through matches that we regain our momentum, and our bodies adapt to the demands of consistent effort once again.
You now have a new coach in Victor Zvunka. What has he conveyed to the team ahead of the season? He hasn’t said much. He’s a highly respected figure within our squad, and his managerial qualities are well-known, so he doesn’t need to deliver lengthy speeches for the players to understand his expectations. Importantly, he mentioned that he’s already familiar with the group, so it’s now our responsibility to confirm our abilities and maintain our positions in the lineup.
What are Nîmes’ aspirations for this season? At the moment, we aren’t placing a strong emphasis on achieving promotion to Ligue 1. Our primary focus is on starting the season well and winning our matches consistently. In football, you can never predict what might happen. If we find ourselves in a leading position at any point during the season, it’s our responsibility to remain level-headed and continue putting in the hard work.
Did Stéphane Dalmat’s departure just days before the start of the season disrupt the team? Not at all. Since his arrival, it was clear that he struggled with the physical demands and various training sessions. He was a talented player, but he also recognized that he no longer possessed the endurance of his youth. Consequently, he decided to amicably terminate his contract.
Will you be following the Olympic Games, Komlan Amewou? Not particularly. To be honest, athletics isn’t my main interest. Additionally, with the fatigue we’ll accumulate from training, it will be challenging to follow the competition extensively. Nevertheless, I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to the Togolese athletes and wish them the best of luck.
