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“The club will always remain in my heart”: the words of Nadir Hifi for ESSM Le Portel, after its liquidation.

From the unusual history of Portel within the professional world, we will remember a fantastic audience, a miracle-working coach, Éric Girard, an emblematic captain, Benoit Mangin, the historic soldiers (Ronnie Taylor, Charles-Henri Bronchard, Garry Chathuant, Jakim Donaldson) and a rather unexpected destiny: that of Nadir Hifi. If the international, who is preparing this Thursday to celebrate his 14th selection with the Blues against Serbia, is today a real star of French basketball, it is worth remembering what he was, in 2020, when joining the Porteloe academy: a player forced to rejoin the ranks of the SIG Association, in NM3, after leaving the Lille training center prematurely. “I didn't expect that…” The rest of the story is known: three seasons of uninterrupted progression, from the status of top Espoirs scorer to a 39-point score against… Paris, via an unexpected explosion at the end of 2021 and two MVP of the month trophies. Nadir Hifi during his last visit to Portel in January, for a historic victory for Paris (120-57, photo by Théo Caron) Having left for Paris Basketball in 2023, which was an excellent career choice in hindsight, Nadir Hifi was questioned on his new YouTube channel about the situation at Portel, placed in compulsory liquidation. The ex-Caudron prospect logically had a word of support for his former club, now in the Pre-National. “The end of an exceptional adventure”: ESSM Le Portel is officially in liquidation… June 18, 2026 Alexandre Lacoste “It’s sad to see your training club in such a situation. I didn't expect that. When leaving Le Portel, I imagined that the club would continue to fight for its place in the best French league. This is a difficult step for the city and the region. Because Le Portel made the whole region vibrate. Support for supporters, for all the enthusiasts who have supported the ESSM for years. The club will always remain in my heart, that’s for sure. »