The Nationale 2 handball season is not over, but the fate of HBC Gien has been sealed for quite some time. Sitting at the bottom of their group, with zero wins in nineteen matches, the club has been relegated to Nationale 3. Last week, the leaders announced a change in coach. Mohamed Zaroili will replace Frédéric Chaumeron (who will remain at the club, overseeing the U18 team).
“He had the desire to come back here,” explains president Jacques Girault. “He played in Nationale 1 with us for a long time. He also has great experience, having played with the Moroccan national team in several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and a World Championship with Morocco. For the past two seasons, he has been coaching USM Montargis, taking them from Regional 2 to Pre-National. He really wanted to come back to Gien, as he says it’s his club.”
“A return to his beloved club”
“A club that will play in N3 next season with the goal of returning as quickly as possible,” stresses Jacques Girault. As for the team, interviews with the players have begun. Several of them are expected to stay, with the idea of maintaining the same core group and adding some reinforcements.
There are three matches left to play before closing this 2025-2026 season. The next one is scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd, with HBC Gien traveling to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin to face CLT Tourlaville. This could be their first victory in eight months.
