INTERVIEW : Max Habesztrau talks about the French women’s Masters team

Published on 23rd January 2023

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At the end of the Arvernes’ tournament, Rémi Honoré and Max Habesztrau have recently revealed the list of the French women’s Masters team for the World Championship 2023 in Australia. The French head answers our questions about the squad which will go for the tournament in July.

Did you want to keep half of the World Champions’ team in the roster ? 

Max Habesztrau – Not really, since the training camps are free to everyone, we have players coming from everywhere without necessarily a “high” level. The Master’s philosophy is to be open for everyone. The players are improving so they can share their experience when they return to their club. Sometimes, they come to training camps without wishing for a selection but sometimes they say “you never know” and try their luck.

You haven’t see France-May Martel for months because she plays in New-Zealand. However, she is in the team. Why ? 

Max Habesztrau – Rémi and I don’t take this type of decision alone. We talk with the group and we see if they agree or not. We don’t leave France-May alone. She has been in the team since South Africa (2016). She plays at a high level and a lot in New Zealand. We are aware of her performance, there are a lot of videos about the championship she plays and she updates us in detail about what she’s doing. This year she came to France and we were able to see her true level. She is an experienced player. She is one of the strongest physically, so if she keeps a good training rhythm, we know she is going to be strong underwater. Furthermore, she plays in New Zealand and she competes regularly against strong Australians players.

Cécile Virgitti and Coralyne Lemaire were part of the Elite team in 2018. What do you expect of them and what can they bring to the squad ?

Max Habesztrau – Experience, serenity, game vision, skills and all the knowledge they have by playing at the higher level. For example, Nathalie Mathieu is not selected, but she brings her game vision and technicity. They are bringing a higher level to the team. This is what we missed during the World Championship in Canada in 2018. 

What is the goal with this new Master group ?

Max Habesztrau – World Champions. To keep the title. We can’t predict the future. Obviously, some teams will try to stop us. We have this goal and we have a team, intrinsically, better than in Canada. The group has changed, with more physical, more experience and with players from the Elite group who have failed to be World Champion, so they’re hungry for it. We are playing in Australia and this time, we are among the favorites, unlike Canada where people were surprised by our level. I was more confident in Quebec, because I felt we were increasing game after game and I know we were strong at three meters. In Australia, it’s two meters so it’s different. Australia and New Zealand know how to play at this depth. At three meters, it was difficult for the Australians and we felt they didn’t have the tactical ability to play in this type of pool. Now, this is their pool, they know the slide, they are very strong and they are waiting for us. Finally, New Zealand, we didn’t play against them, we don’t know how we will adapt to their tactics during the match so we’ll need to go forward very quickly. I would like to be the World champion with style.

The list of the players of the French women’s Master team for the 2023 World Championship