The president of LMB, Bienvenue Djomatin. - V. Ticket / 20 Minutes

  • Lille Métropole Basket, which started 2020 with two successes in a row, is 10th in the Pro B ranking after fifteen days.
  • The Lille club, which has not left the second national level since its accession in 2009, still dreams of joining the elite ... in the medium term.
  • Welcome Djomatin, its president since winter 2018, would like additional support from the public authorities to pass this important milestone.

2020 suits him well. After two victories to start the year, Lille Métropole basket (10th in Pro B) will try to continue against Paris Basket, this Friday evening (20h) at the Palais Saint-Sauveur. With the hope of returning to the first part of the ranking. And in the back of my mind, the desire to join the elite of French basketball. Right or wrong ?

Yes, Lille is right to dream

Because it is a big metropolis. At one time, the national league had carried the project to bring the big cities in the elite… Lille, which would like to join Lyon, Paris or Strasbourg, has in any case a large pool of population, and therefore of training.

Because it did not go far from the climb. In 2018, LMB reached the semi-finals of the play-offs, eliminated by Roanne, who has since joined the Jeep Elite. And eleven years in a row in Pro B, it's starting to make a lease.

Finally, because other little ones have done it. Le Portel in 2016 or Nanterre in 2011. "It's a benchmark," says Bienvenue Djomatin, president of Lille since 2018. With a budget of 1.78 million euros, the Ile-de-France club took the elevator before s 'install in the former Pro A and compete for the European Cup. The Lille dream.

No, LMB must not get carried away

Because it is very complicated. Being champion at the end of the regular season or winning the play-offs is already not easy. The tightening of the elite (from 18 to 16 clubs) at the end of the season and the increased competition in Pro B (18 to 20 teams) will not facilitate the task of the LMB.

Because the numbers hurt. The average budget of the champions for the last three seasons? 2.78 million euros, when Lille displays a forecast at 1.83 M, the 12th of Pro B. "We are at a glass ceiling, we should reach 2 or 2.2 million euros ( budget) ", loose Djomatin.

Because the LMB is not ready. Lille wants to take the plunge by taking its time. “We want to be ready in two seasons, concedes the manager. Have solid kidneys and stay there. By then, he hopes for sustained support from the public authorities. "We can do miracles ... all together," slips the one who is particularly attached to the development of private partnerships. Money, the nerve of war.

Fortunately, on a match, the uncertainty of the sport resides. This Friday, the LMB defies Paris Basket and its budget of 3.22 million euros. Almost double that of the Lille club and yet not even that of the smallest budget of Pro A (3.75 million).

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