CAM92 return to the scene of their first EHL adventure this week with the French club back in Real Club Polo de Barcelona for a second time having played there in the EHL ROUND1 in 2009.

As such, it is a well-known venue for coach Aymeric Bergamo – in his 20th season at the club as either player or coach – and manager Joost Jansen who played in that event prior to the name change from CA Montrouge.

“I know only too well how we will need to play at the highest level to obtain the performance I’m hoping for and to challenge Real Club de Polo,” says Bergamo of the challenge ahead. 

“I’m expecting maximum commitment from all my players and staff so we can show the very best versions of ourselves during this competition.”

Last year’s KO16 in Hamburg showed how tough things can be as they fell to Ireland’s Lisnagarvey and England’s Wimbledon, the latter in a 5-3 tussle. 

Their preparation this year has been more intense with a larger training group allowing for more competition between players. 

It is a young but dynamic team which boasts several senior international players including Corentin Sellier, Lucas Montecot (both recently selected for the last Euro Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany) and Antonin Igau, who has returned to CAM 92 after two years in Belgium. There are also many players in the French Under-21 national squad. 

Erwan Brodt (Racing Club de France), Julius Mayer (Münchner SC), James Liddiard (Girondins de Bordeaux), John Stephen (Edinburgh University Men’s Hockey Club) and Benedikt Nahr (Münchner SC) also joined this summer.

Indeed, nine out of their twenty player squad have always played at CAM 92 and nine others had never played in the highest French league before joining our club. 

They have won their first three French league games, scoring 15 times in the process with Louis Poupée leading the way with five.