Philippe SASSIER: The FMP faces challenges

Philippe Sassier is one of the great men of French-speaking padel. He is one of those who have worked to develop this sport since the 90s. Today, co-president of the Monegasque Federation of Padel (FMP), he looks back on his journey in padel and the ambitions of the FMP.

You are one of the “old hands of French padel”. Can you tell us how you got into it?

I knew the Padel during a trip to South America at the end of the 80s. Having a real passion for this sport, I worked from the beginning of the 90s so that the Padel became known in France and Monaco, the country in which I live and work.

In 1992, I obtained the Federal Diploma category 1 from the French Federation of Padel (FFP). Then I went on a Mission with the FFP, to the World Championship in Seville during the Seville Universal Exhibition as an observation of the French team of Padel. In 1993, I participated, still alongside the FFP in 1^er French Open of Padel In Toulouse.

From 1994, I focused on promoting this sport in my region by becoming Founder and President of the Departmental Committee Padel des Alpes Maritimes and South-East representative of the brands of Padel VAIRO AND TOP FORCE.

Then, I became Vice-President of the FFP in 1996 and I organized in collaboration with Mr. Claude BAIGTS, President of the FFP, the 1^er exhibition tournament Padel in Monaco under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II.

Finally, I decided to get involved to make the Padel at Monaco. I first founded the Monaco Association Padel Racket in which I am Vice-President. Then, in 2014, I founded the Federation of Padel Monaco in which I am currently Co-President.

You talk about “free time” when you dedicate your time to padel…

Le Padel is a real passion for me and I devote most of my free time to bringing this sport to life in the Principality and in the neighboring municipalities. I speak of "free time" in the sense that the Padel is not my profession. I have been employed at Monaco City Hall for more than 20 years and I therefore juggle my professional life to be able to free up enough time to grant it to my passion. Thus, since 2014, the Federation is proud to be able to present an ambitious activity report.

Did you have help related to your events?

Everything was financed without any government subsidy.

In 2015 :

The organization of the first World Padel Tour in the Principality with the company MIS.
The creation of a school of Padel with Mr. Christian COLLANGE at the Stade du Devens.

In 2016 :

The participation of the Monegasque team in the qualifiers of the European Championship in Basel

In 2017 :

The participation of the Monegasque team in the interclub tournament in Turin,
The participation of the Monegasque team at the Open de France in Toulouse,
The participation of the Monegasque team International Monaco tournament - Ireland Veteran man,
The participation of the Monegasque team in the European Championship Padel in Estoril in Portugal
Member of the European Association of Padel with Mr. Claude BAIGTS, President of theAECP

In 2018 :

The participation of the Monegasque team in the Masters Padel 4 Nations Scotland / England / Ireland / Monaco in Paris.
The participation of the Federation of Padel Monaco / Club Eze at the first European Club Cup in Paris
All of this has been fully funded through generous donors or sponsors. In particular, I set up a crowdfounding to allow the Monegasque team to participate in the European Championship of Padel in Estoril in Portugal. I let you imagine the time and energy required to allow Monaco to participate in all these sporting events.

Today, things are changing?

The Fed continues its fight, and I weigh my words, to obtain approval from the Government so that it can benefit from state subsidies. In addition, its organization itself has been revised and its office redesigned:

Regarding the bureau, a Co-President was elected. This is Mr. Christian COLLANGE, a key figure in the world of Padel :

Managing Director Société Sun Sports Events MC (Padel, distribution, events, management of sports complexes)
President of the Commission Padel PACA FFT
Member of the Federal Commission of Padel FFT
President Padel FFT French Riviera
Director and creator of the Challenge Inter Entreprise tennis and Padel - Monaco

We can also count on Mr. Franck DAMAR, Vice-President:

Former tennis player at the Monegasque Tennis Federation;
Member of the team Padel from Monaco:
- Participation in the qualifiers of the European Championship in Basel
- Participation in the interclub tournament in Turin,
- Participation at the Open de France in Toulouse,
- Participation in the European Championship Padel in Estoril in Portugal

This new team is full of enthusiasm and ambition to support the Fed.

The objectives and ambitions are now clearly defined.

Does Monaco have its own padel club?

As the Principality does not own any land, I remedied this difficulty by creating a partnership with Tennis Padel Club d'Eze Village, at his head Michel Borfiga opened wide the doors of his club which now has four outdoor pitches and which has the advantage of being very close to Monaco. Thus, the grounds of Eze will serve both as a training center for Fédé players but also as a place for the organization of tournaments initiated by the Fédé.

What are the objectives of the Monegasque Federation?

There are several of them :

Promote the Padel in the Principality, in particular with schools. In this regard, we are considering a collaboration with the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports to carry out this project. We also want to organize “open days” so that everyone can try out this sport.
Train players and coaches. We want to be able to count on male and female teams to participate in the various competitions of Padel. We also want to train coaches to be able to provide more lessons to players and organize clinics so that everyone can improve.
Participate in tournaments and competitions. The objective of the Fed is to have level players to participate in various competitions and see the progress over the years.
Organize tournaments. The Fede's ambition is to organize tournaments. For 2019, the Monaco and Riviera Business Challenge and the Team Championship of the PACA region are already organized.

We can not ignore certain constraints in Monaco, right?

I am confident for the future of the Fed and Padel at Monaco. However, due to the peculiarities of this very small country, we come up against additional difficulties such as the lack of land or the distribution of the members of the Monegasque team which cannot be made up 100% of people of Monegasque nationality.

Indeed, the Principality of Monaco is a singular state by its size, and it is particularly difficult to compose a team with the distribution method imposed by the International Federation of Padel who wants 75% of Monegasque and 25% of resident for more than three years. As a reminder, the Principality has 37.300 inhabitants and only 8.378 people of Monegasque nationality. You will agree that the task of setting up a team with the distribution method described above seems almost impossible. The only consequence of this method of team composition is to exclude the participation of small States in international competitions. Discussions with the new President of FIP, Mr. Luigi CARRARO have been initiated so that a solution can be considered as soon as possible.

So there is still some way to go but the Padel promises a bright future for Monaco and the Federation of Padel Monaco is more determined than ever to make this sport known and alive.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.