Wednesday 30 September 2026
The Red Devils of Tambourine win the Les Pennes-Mirabeau World Championship in men's Series D
A year ago, they finished last in men's Series D (under-age). This weekend, in Les Pennes-Mirabeau, they won all five of their matches and brought the cup home to Belgium. Next year, they will play in Series C.
We very nearly didn't go. The difficulties were piling up and, a few days before departure, we were ready to give up. That was when the tournament organisers gave us a surprise we will never forget: seeing our difficulties, they covered our travel and accommodation costs. Thank you to the Tambourin Club des Pennes-Mirabeau.
So we were the last to arrive. On Saturday the tournament had started at 9 am; our plane landed in Marseille at 1 pm, and we played our first match at 3 pm. Because our late arrival upset the schedule, we had to play three matches back to back. You might have thought it would wear us out. The opposite happened: fired up at having met the challenge of being there at all, the Red Devils of Tambourine swept everything, and comfortably — 8-2 against Figanières, 8-2 against Chorges, 8-3 against Les Pennes-Mirabeau.
On Sunday, still not quite understanding how they had pulled off such a feat the day before, they played the semi-final at 9 am against Lavérune and won it by a whisker, 8-7. At noon, in the final, they got the better of Lavérune again, 8-4: the World Championship cup was rightfully theirs, and their victory beyond dispute.
Just look how far they have come. A year ago, at this same World Championship, we finished last in men's Series D. Since then, our players had not touched a ball outdoors: in Belgium, the team trains only indoors. Now here they are on stage as winners, promoted to Series C for next year.
The challenge will be tougher still. Series D is played on a 60-metre pitch; Series C on 80 metres. And the ball is smaller there, and faster, because it is heavier than the Series D ball.
This World Championship confirms what we wrote about Narcisse Amoussou, our sporting director and captain: he was named best player of his series and received his metal trophy on stage, alongside the champion team's cup and the one each winning player received.
And then there is Carlos. He answered our call, and he was there. Thank you, Carlos, for covering our backs as back player: without you, we would never have won all those matches.
We also owe this title to two people we consider our mentors: Louis Ganivenq and his daughter Patricia, president of the French Tambourine Ball Federation. Louis, the creator of indoor tambourine ball, took the Belgian team under his wing: cap firmly on his head, he coached it through all its matches, as he does every year at this World Championship, and it was thanks to his advice that the team came out on top every time. Patricia has supported us since the very beginning of our journey. Louis, Patricia: thank you for always standing by us and, since day one, for giving us the precious advice that helps us grow.
Thank you to Philippe Gouneaud, organiser of the World Championship, to the Tambourin Club des Pennes-Mirabeau, its volunteers and the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau. See you next year, in Series C.
