Franck Thanks Hibs.Net Hibees!
(Stuart Crowther)

FRANK SAUZEE was last night expressing his thanks to Hibs.Net's army of Hibee fans, following the decision to honour the Frenchman by playing his national anthem as the teams took to the field on Saturday for the game against St Mirren.

The fans made the suggestions on the Hibs.Net Message Board last week, asking the Easter Road stadium announcer to consider playing 'La Marseillaise' in honour of the influential Hibs skipper signing a new two-year deal at Hibernian.  The surprise for the Hibs skipper was complete as the Anthem rang out around the stadium to a standing ovation, and a fired-up Hibs French contingent returned the faith of the fans, Sauzee opening the scoring and his close friend and countryman David Zitelli striking the next two to send Hibs on the way to another home victory.

"I knew noting at all about it until we were running out before the game with St Mirren," Sauzee told David Hardie of the Edinburgh Evening News last night, adding: "It was unbelievable, but I was both surprised and delighted.  It was the first time I had heard La Marseillaise played at a game other than when I was with the French national team, so it was very emotional for me.  You expect to hear your national anthem when you play in your own country, but to have it played in your honour in a foreign country was absolutely terrific, I was very happy."

Sauzee - 'I was very happy' (sns)

It is not the first time Hibs.Net's army of fans have put their voices behind a cause where Sauzee is concerned.  When the player announced he would be retiring from football, the fans campaign to convince him to change his mind started on the Hibs.Net message board, and eventually the message got through to Sauzee that perhaps there was a few years left in the legs yet!  And the fans made another gesture towards their popular skipper on his birthday last year, when a presentation was made to him on behalf of Hibs.Net fans ahead of a game at Tannadice against Dundee United.

"It was a wonderful gesture from the fans," Sauzee said, adding: "It means a great deal to me.  I said when I signed my new contract that this is the best time in my football career and this just underlines it.  It is difficult for me to speak about how much the fans like me but they have shown a lot of respect to me since I arrived at Easter Road and I have to thank the for that."

Meanwhile Hibs have clinched another Frenchman, with Marc Libbra signing a three-month loan deal from Toulouse, as exclusively revealed by Hibs.net last week.  Striker Libbra will not be eligible to play in the Scottish Cup tie at Stirling on Saturday, but is expected to feature when Hibs take on league leaders Celtic at Parkhead the following week.