Pétanque World Championships 2023: hosts Benin have big ambitions
The Pétanque World Championships will take place from 8 to 17 September 2023 in Cotonou. Benin, runners-up in 2016, are aiming for the title on home soil.
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We watched a conscientious group of players on the morning of Wednesday 24 May 2023 at the International Pétanque Training Centre (CIFOP) in Djadjo, 14km from Cotonou. They were shooting and pointing with great finesse on the terrain. It marks the start of a long training camp, three months before the pétanque World Championships. "It feels good to start preparing early. It helps build self-belief and be a worthy Cheetah pétanque player. We are proud to be here," said Marcel Gbetable, interim captain of the men's national team.
His compatriot Léontine Fagla, captain of the women's team, the Amazons, shares that view. "We got the camp off to a good start this morning. Benin are no novices in this discipline. We will go all out for the world title in three months. We are going to give our best for a good showing," she said.
Three full months of preparation
To leave no room for error, "Garba Yaya, president of the Beninese Pétanque Federation, ordered that we work for three solid months. So, with preparation having begun on 24 May, we will finish the camp after the championships," said Guy Tronou, national technical director of the FBP.
The camp's programme features intensive preparation, with technical and psychological workshops to help the players improve. The FBP has called up 16 players, including 8 Amazons. It is the outcome of a pre-selection held across the six leagues of the country's twelve departments, followed by the final selection of Benin's representatives for the 50th pétanque World Championships.
The postponement has worked in Benin's favour
Originally scheduled for December 2022 in Benin, the 50th Pétanque World Championships were postponed to September 2023 because of delays in building the boulodrome, which gave way to marquees. The postponement allows Benin to field doubles teams. "We were only supposed to host the triples. The president of the African Confederation of Boules Sports negotiated after the postponement. In the end, he also secured the doubles world championship. We have the chance to field two teams in that category. It is a wide-open door that gives us a shot at titles in all seven events at stake," said the national technical director.
"The aim is to go higher and win this title"
Runners-up at the world championships in Madagascar in 2016, Benin want to finish on top of the world at the upcoming event. The coaching staff are aware of the task, Guy Tronou assures. "We need both substance and style. As for style, we already have a title. We cannot do any less. The aim is to go higher and win this title. It is a lot of work, but we have the right players. We will do what is necessary not to let our nation down." Among the players, the goal is just as clear: to become world champions. "There are seven titles at stake. Why not go for three? We will be at home, and we cannot afford a poor showing. We are going to put everything into it to show Beninese people that pétanque is not to be underestimated," warned Marcel Gbetable.
What are Benin's strengths?
While the Beninese teams will have the backing of a sports-loving home crowd, they can also lean on two internationals who are preparing in France. "Bio Marcel, world runner-up in 2016, will be with the team. Also Gérard Agossa, world runner-up in precision shooting, from whom we expect a lot because he has also gained experience. They will join the home-based players, who also have a little experience," said national technical director Guy Tronou, expressing his hopes.