Angers SCO manager Alexandre Dujeux has paid a heartfelt tribute to two of the club's most loyal servants, midfielder Pierrick Capelle and central defender Abdoulaye Bamba, as the pair prepare to hang up their boots. The coach highlighted their remarkable dedication, noting Capelle's eleven-year tenure and Bamba's nine-year stint with the club, a level of fidelity he described as exceptional in modern football.
The announcement came as the team focuses on its final two Ligue 1 fixtures of the season, starting with a crucial home match against Strasbourg on Sunday. Angers, currently sitting in 13th place, requires just one more point to mathematically secure their top-flight status for another year. The match will kick off at 21:00 local time.
Dujeux emphasized that while the two veterans have seen reduced playing time this season, their influence within the dressing room and on the training ground has remained invaluable. "I salute their qualities as players and their human qualities," the coach stated, acknowledging their continued importance to the squad dynamic even as their roles evolved.
For Pierrick Capelle, who joined the club in July 2015, the decision to retire alongside his teammate is a source of pride. He expressed that reaching the end of his physical capabilities and departing with a sense of duty fulfilled is a satisfying conclusion to his career. The symmetry of their simultaneous retirement is something he views as a powerful symbol of their shared journey.
Abdoulaye Bamba, who arrived in January 2017, echoed these sentiments. He spoke of his pride in having given everything for the club and for having tried to defend the team's colors with heart throughout his time in Angers. Both players emphasized their commitment to transmitting positive values during their long tenures.
The upcoming match against Strasbourg will be significant for the team's survival hopes, but it will also carry an emotional weight as the club prepares to bid farewell to two figures who have become synonymous with its recent history. The team will be without the suspended Amine Sbai for the fixture.
With only two games left in their distinguished careers, Capelle and Bamba have the opportunity to help their club achieve its primary objective of staying in Ligue 1 before stepping away from the professional game. Their legacy of loyalty and commitment will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on the club and its supporters.
Based on reporting from Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continu.
