Vaccination campaigns against the flu are underway in both territories, but while Frace is targeting the vulnerable, Monaco seeks to get the whole population on board.
In an official communiqué, the Monegasque government has warned that public immunity to the flu has been weakened by the Covid pandemic. Particular attention and priority have been given to the more vulnerable groups – the elderly, pregnant women, health professionals and people with chronic diseases, including for young children from six months to 17 years – but the Principality is asking all residents to get vaccinated against the flu ahead of the winter season.
Flu jabs are available for free through Monaco’s social security system and can be obtained at pharmacies with or without a prescription. They can be administered by a doctor, private nurse or a pharmacist.
In France, the government is running a similar free vaccination campaign until 31st October for: over 65s, people with certain chronic diseases, those who are obese, pregnant women, relatives of infants under six months at risk of developing a severe form of flu, health professionals how are frequently in contact with fragile patients, and home help or aides à domicile.
Until 15th November, these groups will have priority access to flu vaccine stocks. After this date, the greater public will also have free access to the jab.
Photo source: CDC for Unsplash
One-stop Monapass app links transport with key Monaco destinations
Tickets to major tourist attractions, such as the Musée Océanographique and Grand Bus tour, can now be purchased via the Monapass app.
From locating the nearest carpark space to showing in real time when the next bus will reach your stop, as well as purchasing bus tickets and managing a Monabike subscription, the Monapass was initially conceived by the government as a way to link up transport information and ticket purchases for those living in and visiting the Principality.
The app has now expanded its services to include access to some of the most popular attractions in the Principality: Musée Océanographique de Monaco, Cinéma des Beaux-Arts de Monaco and the Grand Tour, a bus experience. Users will be able to buy tickets through the app and thus avoid any queues at these tourist hot spots.
The app also offers a “digital wallet”, allowing users to store all tickets and subscriptions relative to the Principality – even those purchased elsewhere – in one place.
In the 18 months since its launch, the app has been downloaded almost 24,000 times, leading to 68,000 ticket purchases and subscriptions. It also won Monaco a digital mobility award in 2021.
Monapass is available for Android and Apple: www.monapass.mc.
Whilst a settled starting-11 has seemingly crystallised in Philippe Clement’s mind in recent weeks, the right-wing position continues to rotate with neither candidate emphatically stating their case to start.
The release of AS Monaco line-ups in recent weeks have evoked a sense of déjà vu. Familiar names frequently reappear: Alexander Nübel is displaceable, the back-four is settled, Aleksandr Golovin starts on the left-hand side of inseparable Youssouf Fofana and Mohamed Camara, whilst Wissam Ben Yedder and Breel Embolo are an ever-present up front have been afforded the game time to create an already promising partnership.
Whilst Clement is an ardent subscriber to the ‘horses for courses’ theory and frequently states that the players “must prove things in every training session,” there is no denying that a frequent starting-11 has materialised. That is, everywhere apart from at right wing.
Krépin Diatta, Maghnes Akliouche, Takumi Minamino and Gelson Martins have all had minutes in the position, without either managing to emphatically state their claim for a starting spot.
In contrast, Golovin and Henrique have nailed down their spots on the left flank, and the resulting automatisms that have sprouted from this are reaping notable collective and personal rewards. Golovin is arguably in his best spell of form since arriving in the Principality, whilst from left-back Henrique has registered five assists in Ligue 1, putting him third in the standings by this metric. Only Neymar and Lionel Messi have outperformed the Brazilian, who continues to be curiously overlooked by his national team.
On the right-hand side, each player has their own mitigating factor. Diatta, the return from injury, Minamino, the lack of automatisms, Martins, lack of confidence, and Akliouche a lack of experience.
“First of all, Krépin has returned from a big injury. It is normal that he can’t play every match at his best level,” said Clement. The Senegalese winger is still finding his rhythm after suffering a ligament injury last November but is trusted by a manager with whom he worked in Belgium.
Phillipe Clement, photo by Monaco Life
For Akliouche, it is a question of recreating what he shows on the training ground, on matchday. “Maghnes has developed well the past weeks and months,” said Clement. “Because of that, he has received opportunities to prove that during matches. For now, he’s showing it more in training than in the matches. That’s how it often is with young players. As a result of that, there has been more rotation than on the left,” he continued.
Minamino, a €15m arrival from Liverpool in the summer has the challenge of integrating into this side. As a player that is dependent on close interchanges, the sooner he does so, the better.
“Taki can play on both sides. As a result of Golo’s form, he has played less on the left than on the right. He is getting there, but he isn’t yet the Minamino that I know from before. He needs more time to adapt. Each week it’s better, but he isn’t yet at his peak,” began Clement.
He added, “I think it is more about confidence now than anything physical. It is a new championship, you need to discover the division. With the attacking players, it is more complicated because you have to create a connection with the other players, especially with players like Minamino whose strength is combining with players. You need to develop automatisms with others and really know the runs that the other players make. I have full confidence that he’s getting there.”
For Martins, the player who has featured least for Monaco this season (204 minutes on the pitch), the equation is a little more complicated, with Clement citing confidence as a factor. “Gelson has played some matches there (on the right), but with less success than before,” he began.
He then told Monaco Life, “For me, Gelson is a player with a lot of quality. But until now, he has lacked efficiency. He has given a lot for the team. In the final action, he has offered less than others. Sometimes it’s confidence because we see more in training. It is up to him to prove that he can be the most efficient player in this position.”
His concluding remarks on the topic sounded like an invitation for a candidate to make the position theirs. “There is a lot of competition in the wing positions here. It’s up to the players to prove who can be the most efficient for the team both offensively and defensively,” Clement told Monaco Life.
The onus is now on one of Diatta, Minamino, Akliouche, or Martins to impose themselves and solve Clement’s right-wing dilemma.
Photo of Krépin Diatta, Takumi Minamino and Gelson Martins by Monaco Life
Fuel shortage: the French government relaxes refueling limits
Authorities in the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var have done away with the strict 30-litre limit on refueling for cars as well as the 200-litre limit for heavy goods vehicles.
Crediting an “acceleration of social dialogue” and the “mobilisation of strategic [fuel] reserves” by the French government, the Prefecture for the Alpes-Maritimes relaxed curbs on refueling volume on Thursday 20th October, meaning that from today, drivers can fully fill their tanks for the first time since 11th October. The service stations that were reserved uniquely for priority workers will now be opened to the general public for use too.
Authorities in the Var have followed suite with a communiqué announcing the end to limits in the department – as well as the priority fuel stations – from midnight on Sunday 23rd October.
In both départments, a ban on the sale, distribution and transportation of fuel in jerry cans or similar containers remains in place until Monday 24th October.
In collaboration with Parisian brand Drôle de Monsieur, AS Monaco has released a new kit and a sportswear line, inspired by 1970s and 1990s fashion.
Drôle de Monsieur have reimagined the concept of an AS Monaco shirt. Gone is the red and white, as well as the classical Diagonale that is so iconic of the club. Fusing elements of 1970s and 1990s fashion, the Parisian streetwear brand have created “an ode to the Riviera, of which Monaco is the crowning jewel”.
Although breaking from the Monégasque tradition in some ways, the collection is nonetheless inspired by the history of the Principality, demonstrating a direct link to the region.
The collection consists of two full outfits – complete with a shirt, shorts, and shoes – and a “lifestyle” range, consisting of two T-shirts, a tracksuit, a bag, and a cap.
The collaboration has also given rise to a fourth kit, which is to be worn during Monaco’s match against Lille on Sunday evening.
“The shirt and the capsule collection blend together elements of the identity of the club and the world of fashion, through Drôle de Monsieur’s elegant vision,” said AS Monaco CEO Jean-Emmanuel de Witt.
The collection can be bought from the club’s official boutique in Monaco, on the club’s or Kappa’s online store, as well as at the Drôle de Monsieur shop in Paris.
Just as they did in Israel, AS Monaco Basketball let a healthy lead slip against Panathinaikos, but this time, Sasa Obradovic’s men just held on (80-83) to secure a return to winning ways.
The Roca Team were dealt their first blow of the season against Maccabi Tel Aviv in midweek, with a fourth-quarter collapse ending the team’s impressive unbeaten record. Once again on the road on Friday, Monaco were looking to bounce back against Panathinaikos.
Quick out of the blocks, Monaco looked to have wrapped up the victory in the first-quarter. By just the 9th minute, the team had opened up an 18-point lead (29-11), leaving the home side with little prospect of chasing the victory.
However, the Roca Team sometimes cannot kill games, which was once again evident on Friday. Much of their good work was undone in the second-quarter (21-11) as Obradovic’s side relinquished their tight grip on the game.
Throughout the second-half, neither side could construct a lead; it became clear that this game would be decided in ‘money time.’ In such moments, no man is more up to the task than Mike James (27). Monaco’s top scorer on the night, his pinpoint accuracy with shoots and assists proved the difference, as it often does.
Late three-pointers from former Roca Boy Paris Lee and Georgios Kalaitzakis weren’t enough to help Panathinaikos restore parity at the death. Monaco may have complicated the task, but ultimately leave Greece with the victory (80-83).
“This time we managed the game a bit better than we did in Tel Aviv. We’ll take this victory and now we need to move on to the next one. We need to better execute our systems in order to avoid bending to pressure,” said Monaco’s Elie Okobo post-match.
Obradovic’s side now return to the Principality for a Betclic Elite fixture against Bourg-en-Bress on Sunday, before flying back out to Greece to face their old nemesis, Olympiacos, next Thursday.
Photo by AS Monaco Basket
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