After playing for the club in Pantin, his hometown, volleyball player Houssem Safraou joined the training center of Tours, one of France's top clubs, last year. This season, the young man is training with the professional squad, composed entirely of internationals, including Earvin Ngapeth, a double Olympic champion considered one of the greatest French volleyball players in history.
Wearing the number 93, like Sacha Boey or Noah Penda, this 19-year-old spent his childhood and adolescence in Pantin. Unlike other athletes from his department, Houssem Safraou chose volleyball. The Tours club, often compared to PSG for its consistency and sporting power, allows him to play alongside his idol, Earvin Ngapeth, with whom he shares the position of receiver-attacker.
His journey began by chance. Enrolled at age 4 in the 'baby' section of Pantin Volley, located near his home, he discovered a sport he found "super cool." After nine extraordinary years at this club, he moved to the Sporting Club Nord Parisien, where his career truly took off, followed by a stint at Asnières, before landing at the Tours training center in 2025, described as the "Ferrari of French volleyball."
Currently linked to the club by a training agreement, Houssem Safraou plays with the U21 team but trains with the professional group. He remains ready to be called up by the coach if a first-team player gets injured, acknowledging the challenge given the top-level players at Tours, who compete in the Champions League.
Training alongside Earvin Ngapeth is a "privilege and a real godsend." Although nearing the end of his career, Ngapeth impresses with his technique and daily advice. Safraou considers him "the Mbappé of volleyball" and draws inspiration from him every day.
After participating in friendly matches with the Tunisian U19 team, Houssem Safraou hopes to be called up to the senior squad. Tunisia, the best team in Africa with 12 titles, has already qualified for the 2027 World Championship and the 2028 Olympic Games. At 21 years old in 2028, he "has the right to dream" of competing in the Olympics with his national team.
