Global 2021 of pétanque: the bowling squirrels, race against time

"We have a unique chance here, the best vintage since 2004. It's a gift from God for the world 2022 that we welcome... This was essentially the words of Guy TRONOU National Technical Director of the Beninese Petanque Federation at the end of the selection for the Swiss World Cup 2020. The world could not be held, the fault of the Covid pandemic 19. A world postponed in 2021. Since more news from the Squirrels, the bans on the grouping of more than fifty people and the practice of group sports participated in this hibernation of the vice world champions 2016.

More than a year later, what remains of this Beninese selection? Marcel Bio the captain and champion of Africa 2019 precision shooting was absent from almost all of the competitions organized in 2020, an institutional choice of his Fraternity club out of respect for government measures.

The return of Marcel BIO to competitions is hardly brilliant in view of the results, two eliminations in the eighth and one in the quarter.

Results certainly not sufficient to degrade the credit capital of the best player in the world 2016 but which have the merit of drawing attention to the need for a new assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the national selection.

Preparing for the world 2021

Four months before the next World Cup before the one planned in Benin in 2022, nothing is on the horizon.

If the technical staff of the Squirrels quickly took the bend of the competition "Turn to Turn New Formula" of Bohicon du 21 mars 2021 mentioned the wish to organize a new greening, for the moment, no program of the Beninese Federation of Pétanque is available in this sense.

Yet far from an option, this is necessary if indeed we aspire to eat at the same table as the greats that are France, Thailand or Madagascar.

A quick troop review allows you to get used to the idea that the human resources exist. In addition to the four selected (Marcel BIO, Marcel PREVIEW, Vivian ZINVIJO and Koffi TCHINHOUN), the four reservists ( Gontran MIHINTO, Ali THAIROU, Roland FAGBOHUN et Amir ADENIGNI), new values ​​have entered the scene (Moustaine ADENIGNI, Mohamed NADJIM, Moctar KORA, Rahman BELLO…..). Ronald BOTRE the middle of the world vice-champion team 2016 could also participate in the challenge. With in control, le duo Guy TRONOU-Thierry BABAGBETO, the selection from this cru, is for sure a war machine that will give no quarter.

To succeed, the other two links in the chain will have to play their parts in time.

The Ministry of Sports must provide the federation with the financial means necessary for preparation worthy of the name which in turn has the obligation to create the material and structural framework for the full development of the selection..

2022 getting ready now. This is our opinion.

Ospisse METOLI