Sablé and Ilunga stay with St-Etienne
Friday, July 22, 2005
Article summary
Resurgent French side AS Saint-Etienne have handed contract extensions to Julien Sablé and Nkongolo Ilunga.
Article body
Happy man
Sablé said he is the "happiest man on earth" since he signed his new deal. Although he hails from Marseille, the 24-year-old midfielder is the symbol of a new generation for Les Verts, evoking the club's famous European exploits of the 1970s.
Huge potential
The 23-year-old Ilunga joined in 2003 from RCD Espanyol and immediately thrived at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. He played 37 of St-Etienne's 38 league games last season and coach Elie Baup said: "There is still a lot to come from Ilunga." St-Etienne take on CFR Cluj in their Intertoto Cup third round second-leg tie on Sunday after a 1-1 draw in Romania.
