Chambéry Savoie Football vs GF38 Coupe de France Thursday match, Digi Mart USA News (Chambéry, France): The seventh-round Coupe de France tie between Régional 1 club Chambéry Savoie Football and Ligue 2 side GF38 will be played Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m. local time.
The unusual midweek kickoff for an amateur club required significant scheduling adjustments for the players involved.
The match was originally expected to be a major local celebration. However, a previously scheduled international rugby test between Canada and Hong Kong at the Chambéry Savoie Stadium on Saturday, November 14, created a calendar conflict.
Friday was also occupied by training sessions for both teams, and Sunday presented further complications.
The Fédération Française de Football also asked that the match not clash with the France national team’s Nations League fixture that evening. The two clubs and local authorities held repeated meetings to reach an agreement.
Municipal staff face a demanding task preparing the synthetic pitch. They must mark, erase and redraw the field lines between football and rugby, subject to weather conditions that allow the paint to dry properly.
Chambéry Savoie Football president Jean-Louis Saint-Bonnet told France 3 Alpes that the weekend was particularly difficult for everyone. He said the strong relationship between the two clubs would help ensure the event goes well.
For amateur players, the schedule requires careful planning between work and sport. Midfielder Djo Kebani, 33, a building painter by profession, was due at the stadium by 4 p.m.
His employer, Romain Riera, a former club player, agreed to give him the day off. Kebani told France 3 he was excited to face professionals and was prepared for the match.
Despite the logistical obstacles, Chambéry Savoie Football plans to hold the match against GF38. The timing may not suit supporters of either club.
Chambéry earned a notable upset against Grenoble in their last Cup meeting.
