Almost 300 schoolchildren from across the Principality will be donning their boots and team colours next week for the first ever edition of the AS Monaco-backed Munegu Cup.
On Monday 5th June, CE2 pupils from the Révoires, Fontvieille, Condamine, FANB and Saint-Charles schools will head down to the Stade Louis II to compete in Monaco’s inaugural Munegu Cup.
The event has been co-created by AS Monaco, at the behest of President Dmitry Rybolovlev, and the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports (DENJS) as a way of promoting sport and team playing amongst young people as well as to highlight the “educational values of sport”.
In line with these goals, older pupils from Monaco high schools will be brought in to referee the matches as the teams bid for a shot at the Munegu Cup trophy.
“AS Monaco occupies a large place in the sporting life of the Principality and, in particular, in that of young Monegasques,” said Rybolovlev, who has thrown himself behind the planning of the competition as well as that of the wider Kids Tour, which has seen AS Monaco and its players travel the breadth of the region to meet young fans since September 2022.
“The practice of sport is essential for their growth and development, whether in terms of physical health, team spirit, dedication, character [or] discipline. AS Monaco deploys various actions for our young supporters and I am very happy that a new event for schoolchildren can see the light of day: the Munegu Cup,” he added, before thanking Isabelle Bonnal, the Commissioner General of DENJS, for her support in the project.
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Photo by Monaco Life
Basketball: Monaco begin Betclic semi-finals with a win
AS Monaco Basketball are one step closer to the Betclic Elite final after beating Bourg-en-Bresse (96-79) on Monday in the first match of a five-match semi-final series.
The Roca Team made light work of Strasbourg in the quarter-finals to advance after a comfortable 2-0 series win. Now they find themselves on the right side of the draw: Monaco’s two closest challengers, Boulogne-Levallois and Lyon-Villeurbanne, will face off against each other in the other semi-final.
Kevin Durant once again in attendance
Monaco’s team is therefore a strong favourite to reach the final. The first match against Bourg-en-Bresse was wrapped up before halftime, and the Roca Team headed back to the dressing rooms with a 16-point advantage (48-32). That lead was never eaten into.
Donatas Motiejunas (20 points) inflicted much of the damage, whilst Mike James (12 points), Elie Okobo (13 points) and Jordan Loyd (12 points) shouldered the creative burden in front of Kevin Durant, who is becoming something of a regular at the Salle Gaston Médecin.
“From the opening minutes, we played with the aggression that we needed. The players have really come into this match in playoff mode,” said Sasa Obradovic post-match.
The Roca Team were wasteful in the final quarter, unnecessarily losing possession on multiple occasions and being hit in the transition, but there was no chance of a comeback as Obradovic’s men professionally sealed the win (96-79).
Monaco will be hoping to double their lead at the Salle Gaston Médecin on Wednesday. A victory would leave them within one win of the Betclic Elite final, which will take place later this month.
AS Monaco joined the fight to protect the world’s oceans on Monday, signing a convention with the Oceanographic Institute to help amplify a collective environmentalist message.
Just beyond Monaco’s stadium of the Louis II lies the Mediterranean Sea, but it was within the Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum that the club took sure steps to ensure its preservation.
Youth as a vehicle for awareness
“The essential objective [of this convention] is to raise awareness. It’s to make our youth aware of our oceans’ fragility, to ensure that they understand, learn and act,” said AS Monaco Director General Ben Lambrecht.
Prior to the signing of the convention, members of the club’s prestigious La Diagonale Academy took a tour of the historic museum to learn more about the threats faced by the world’s waters. Amongst them was Malick Sylla, who described the tour as “a beautiful exploration outside the world of football”.
Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
However, the idea isn’t just that Monaco’s youngsters learn about the threats, but that they also become vehicles of a message to help protect the oceans from over-exploitation and pollution, a fact maturely evoked by Sylla.
“It is important, as our idols do, to transmit these values around the protection of the oceans to those that don’t have the chance to come,” he said.
Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, added, “When I say ‘protect the ocean’ it’s my job, but when it’s one of these young players, there will be thousands, tomorrow perhaps millions, of people that will hear them.”
Calcagno acknowledged the work done by governments and scientists in recent years, which have manifested in a series of multilateral international agreements, but said that the partnership signed between Monaco and the Institute, described by Lambrecht as a “logical” one in view of the geographical location of the Principality, is a step towards amplifying the message to a different audience.
Photo of Ben Lambrecht and Robert Calcagno by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
“Through this partnership, we wish to integrate into our approach all the elements of the club, and act as a sounding board in order to make our supporters, and the largest possible number of people, aware of the importance of protecting the oceans and their biodiversity,” Lambrecht told Monaco Life. “It’s something for which we must all take responsibility. As an emblematic football club, we have a responsibility.”
Kylian Mbappé, a special visitor at the Monaco Oceanographic Museum
A famed graduate of Monaco’s Academy paid a visit to Oceanographic Museum just days earlier. France captain Kylian Mbappé, who now plays for Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain, has used his reach to address socio-cultural issues, and whilst outspoken on numerous topics, he also donates all of his bonuses from the national team to charity.
Calcagno recounted his interaction with Mbappé, whom he described as “a good, calm, open and curious person, who already had an awareness of the oceans, and its key principles”.
The director added, “I told myself that his passage at Monaco has certainly played a role.”
Education is at the heart of Monaco’s academy, with the focus at La Diagonale being on creating rounded individuals as well as great footballers. Through the signing of Monday’s convention, it is hoped that these “future leaders” will mobilise the wider public in protecting the oceans.
However, the club look set to fall short of those expectations, despite a considerable recruitment drive over the summer. Following a loss against AS Cannes Football, Monacowill again almost certainly miss out on promotion. With only the top side set for promotion, Monaco’s destiny is out of their hands, and only a shock Cannes loss would offer them the possibility of promotion to the D3.
As well as Banide, Christophe Almeras has also left the club. The club’s youth coach, Tony Ribeiro, replaces the duo and will take charge of ASM Women until the end of the season.
Roles for Louis Ducruet and Jean Petit
As well as the managerial change, there is movement behind the scenes. Louis Ducruet, nephew of Prince Albert II and former employee at AS Monaco, arrives at the club in order to contribute to the growth and development of the AS Monaco Women’s side. Ducruet, who recently spoke to Monaco Life about his sporting ambitions, left his recruitment role at Premier League side Nottingham Forest earlier this season.
Jean Petit, a former Monaco player and manager as well as a French international, joins the club in the role of sporting advisor to the president. These changes aren’t expected to reap rewards in the short-term, with the club already looking towards earning promotion next season.
AS Monaco are four games without a win in all competitions after Stade de Reims took the three points away from the Stade Louis II (0-1) on Sunday.
Les Monégasques’ season has come off the rails since their Europa League exit against Bayer Leverkusen in February. Since that defeat, Monaco are yet to win, and they continued their poor run of form against Reims. The Principality club’s winless run now extends to four games.
Woodwork to the rescue
Monaco were the last team to beat Reims in Ligue 1, and since Will Still took the helm in September, the club have been imperious. However, it was the Monegasques who had the better chances, despite a lack of possession.
Wissam Ben Yedder’s dinked finish beat Yehvann Diouf, but not the post. Just the other side of the break, Vanderson then went close, but he hit the other post. Monaco were knocking on the door, but Reims would break it down through Folarin Balogun.
The Englishman, currently on loan from Arsenal, broke clear of the Monaco defenders and beat Alexander Nübel with a strongly-hit effort. Balogun could have had a second after pouncing on a Malang Sarr error, but this time Nübel was equal to the attempt.
Record-breaking Will Still
However, Monaco couldn’t create any chances of their own and therefore succumbed to a logical defeat. Les Monégasques drop off the podium and are now three points away from third-placed RC Lens.
Reims are currently on the longest unbeaten run in Europe’s top five divisions. Only former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel has had a longer unbeaten start to life in Ligue 1.
Monaco are in dire need of constructing a run of their own.
“It’s up to us to get our heads back up and work hard to turn our luck around. It’s not a question of desire, but we showed that today,” said Philippe Clement post-match.
The Principality club travel to relegation-struggling Ajaccio next Sunday, where only a win will do.
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Photo by AS Monaco
No arrivals at AS Monaco as transfer window slams shut
The transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday, with no players coming through the door at AS Monaco, whilst outgoings have also been sparse.
It has been an atypically quiet January transfer window for Les Monégasques, who didn’t add to their existing group before the deadline on Tuesday evening. It is the first time that the Principality club haven’t recruited during the winter window since the 2004/05 season. Benoît Badiashile is the highest profile exit during this window, whilst there were further departures before the closure of the market.
Confirmed departures
Félix Lemarechal from Monaco to Brest
The young French midfielder, who captains the club’s Groupe Elite, is set to gain first-team, top-division experience at Ligue 1 rivals Brest. The player was absent from training on Monday ahead of a six-month loan deal to the club. The player is part of the long-term planning at Monaco, and the deal therefore doesn’t include an option to make the loan permanent. The deal was officialised on deadline day.
Coveted but staying
Jean Lucas linked by Foot Mercato to Espanyol, Troyes and Besiktas
The Brazilian midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at the Principality club and had been linked with a move before Tuesday’s deadline. However, none of the proposals matched Monaco’s expectations. The club wanted to sell the player, but all of the interested parties insisted on a loan. Espanyol’s loan offer included a purchase option of over €5 million, unlike the other two proposals, which were simple loans.
Maghnes Akliouche linked by L’Équipe to Rennes
The academy product had been linked with a departure throughout the window, and even during last summer. Lille have long been touted as a potential destination, but Stade Rennais also entered the fray. According to L’Équipe, the Breton club made a €6 million offer to acquire the attacking midfielder, who has a contract that runs until 2024. Rennes then upped their offer just before deadline day to €10m, but that proposal received a similar response. Monaco Life understands that the Principality club had no intention of letting Akliouche leave the club during the window, and he still forms part of the long-term vision of the club.
Photo of Maghnes Akliouche by Monaco Life
Targets
Sambi Lokonga linked by Foot Mercato to Monaco
The Arsenal midfielder has found game time hard to come by since his arrival from Belgium. Monaco, who see the midfield as a potential department for improvement, have considered the player this window. Foot Mercato have gone so far as to say that a bid was lodged. The French publication reports that that bid was rejected. Ultimately, Lokonga did move, but to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace on loan.
Abakar Sylla linked by L’Équipe to Monaco
Since Badiashile’s departure to Chelsea earlier in January, Les Monégasques have been scouting the market for a potential replacement. Sylla, who plays his club football at Philippe Clement’s former club, Club Brugge, was reportedly a name on the shortlist. Strong performances from Guillermo Maripán, as well as a return to a back four made the recruitment of a centre-back less of a pressing issue than it perhaps was at the beginning of the season. Monaco Life can confirm Monaco’s interest in the centre-back, however, Club Brugge’s demands were ultimately too high, which brought an end to discussions over a January move.
Returning loanee
Chrislain Matsimafrom Lorient to Monaco
Matsima joined Lorient on loan at the start of the season. However, the Monaco centre-back has only made seven starts for Les Merlus and has struggled to dislodge an established centre-back partnership. His return to the Principality club was announced on deadline day. With the club failing to land main target Sylla, Monaco saw a need to add numbers at the back, and have therefore taken the option of repatriating Matsima. He will add depth and numerically compensate for Badiashile’s departure earlier in the window.
Ultimately, Monaco’s decision not to recruit this winter was born out of a profound reflection of the impact of a player’s arrival. Whilst there were targets, it became clear that deals, particularly for Sylla, would be difficult.
Without the chance to recruit their primary targets, the club weren’t keen to panic buy and add to the squad for the sake of it. Les Monégasques currently have a functional and harmonious dressing room, and the club didn’t want to jeopardise that.
There is also the question of giving youth the chance. Should a player have been brought in, he would have been signed to compete for a starting spot, which would have potentially blocked the path of an aspiring academy product. The development and integration of youth players into the first team is a major objective at the club.
