Allez Algeria

Statement from Chairman of the Board, Hichem Boudiaf

It is my pleasure to announce today that the board has selected a new head coach for the CABBA criquets.  Rafik Amara will take over the position effective immediately.  We have spoken with numerous coaches throughout central Algeria over the last two weeks in an effort to align with an individual who has the leadership potential and the ambition to bring Les Criquets out of its current malaise, and set the program up for an eventual push back into League 1.  Mr. Amara may lack in experience at manage a club of this side, but his background in developing youth - as evidenced by his previous role as technical director for the youth squads in Remchi - squads that routinely competed for national titles in the U17, U15, and U13 levels - will go a long way in helping CABBA develop the many talented young players in our system.  Mr. Amara will begin his tasks on the training ground tomorrow, meeting the players and leading them in training in advance of our next home match against MC El Eulma.  I would like to thank Sofiane Bensalem for his flexibility in leading the team over the last two weeks.  It was great to see the team generate some results under his leadership and I believe in conjunction with Mr. Amara, we will have a great tandem leading our youth within the program.

Statement from Rafik Amara, Head Coach CABBA

I would like to thank Mr. Boudiaf and the board for providing me the opportunity to lead this storied club.  I have been eager to begin my journey to manage a club that plays in the top tiers of our nation.  The opportunity to come to Bordj Bour Arréridj and lead this program, one with over 90 years of history, is a great honour.  I recognize that many fans are dissatisfied with the state of the club, and its current performance on the season.  Despite my youth, I have spent my last five years building up a youth program with an emphasis on technical development, and player progression.  I am pleased to have progressed numerous players into amateur and semi-professional squads over the last few years, and I believe in focusing on technical skills and clear tactics, we will be able to stabilize and improve this program.  I will take the time to meet the team, the staff, and the supporters before any drastic changes are made.  We will have some immediate changes on the pitch, where we will begin to transition towards the style of football I prefer to play, which is based upon direct counter-attack and utilizing our wings.  This style, coupled with the programs youth, should put us in more competitive positions and enable more goals to be scored.  We will be moving away from the stale 4-4-2, and embracing a wide formation 4-3-3, with the use of a defensive midfielder playing low.  In watching the squad, I am excited for Tarek Toumi to step into this key DM role as his knowledge of the game will help us transition the counter attack.  Our team does lack some experience in the centre backs - the youth  of this team is a limitation in the fact that these players just do not have the minutes of experience to be able to make sound technical decisions.  I will work with Antar Benyahia, Azzedine Derbal, Adam Medjahed, and Naïm Hamzaoui to develop their field presence and awareness, and help them work as a unit to develop their game.  I do have my eye on the upcoming transfer window, and am looking to bolster our squad in that timeframe.  We are not quite through to the middle of the season, so we continue to have a chance to stabilize, avoid relegation, and set ourselves up for next season.  Thank you

Editorial by Mehdi Bettache, football writer for the Bordj Bou Arréridj Soccer Chronicle

It appears that CABBA have completely mailed in their future with the recent selection of Rafik Amara as the new lead of our esteemed club in this city.  After the debacle of earlier this season - the selection of a nobody named Qamar Morceli - the path to recovery is apparently the selection of a new nobody - Rafik Amara - to plunge this squad into the amateur leagues.  It was not in too distant memory where Les Criquets played in League 1 (albeit pre-COVID) and before that a decade long stint in our top division.  Now we flail about League 2, squandering opportunities against similar squads.  I fail to see the logic or reasoning behind picking a manager with zero experience twice in a row.  Lets face it - Sofian Bensalem’s two weeks of leadership brought the most interesting football we have seen this season.  Though the Round 3 defeat in the Algerian Cup was a disappointment, the squad pushed the match into extra time in the matches waning seconds.  Albeit the extra time period was a disaster, the team showed some gumption.  He followed that with two wins back to back - something we haven’t seen in a year.  Clearly, that would be too much success in too little time to merit giving Mr. Bensalem a crack and leading the squad.  As Director of the Youth Program Bensalem literally brought the same experience to the table as Amara, only with proof that he could get the team to mesh.  About the only positive of the last month is the fact that Younes Belferoum has toned down his desire to flee this squad.  That provides some hope.  But the dismal play of Zakaria Ghalem, Youcef Haddou, and the day care centre of six, 16 year old defenders, leaves this journalist skeptical that anything will change.  I regret to say it, but this squad will soon be playing Saturday afternoon games across the Sahara, challenging village squads in the amateur leagues over the next few years:

MATCHDAY 14

CABB ARRÉRIDJ  (4-2-7, 10th)  0:1 (0:1)  MC EL EULMA (7-1-5, 6th)

45’ - Geriova (MCEE)

MATCHDAY 15

US CHAOUIA (6-1-7, 7th)  3:1 (2:0)  CABB ARRÉRIDJ (4-2-8, 11th)

16’ - Ghimouz (USC)

22’ - Ghimouz (USC)

53’ - Ghimouz - Saved Penalty by Khaled Amara

84’ - Moussaoui (USC)

85’ - Rabah Moussaoui (pen) (CAB)

EDITORIAL by KAMEL MAOUCHE, ALGERIAN SOCCER MESSENGER

Well what was really to be expected over the last 10 days?  Honestly?  Yet again, we have watched 3 hours of football without a score from open play.  Yes, the boys look like they come out ready to play, but the manage to defeat themselves mentally within fifteen minutes of every match.  Shockingly 18,000+ came to see the start of the Rafik Amara era on December 23rd.  If anything was to be taken away from the day, it was that the weather was nice and it was a pleasant afternoon to spend in the stadium.  But nothing from chances, nothing from possession, and nothing from creativity.  If the goal of this new 4-3-3 is to blast the ball up field past our wingers - or if the goal was to take heavy touches that we immediately lose - than the new coach has been a rousing success.  Yes, I get he has to work with what he’s got, but I haven’t really seen the squad be to inspired to try something new.  The MC El Eulma game at least was competitive, but the aberration that was the Friday evening match in Oum El Bouahi made me wonder why I am not already watching our town’s amateur side (update - USBB Arréridj is actually a bigger disaster - winless through 15).

I fear for our town not having a single football club worth watching.  We have always looked forward to the autumn and winter, to divert ourselves with watching the local club bring the town together.  Our spectators are still loyal, but that will only last so long.  Basketball season is providing far more entertaining, and frankly, watching CR Bélouizdad chase its fifth straight championship - as boring as that is, at least provides more entertainment.  

We at least had a bright spot last match in Belferoum looking like he shows some passion again.  And Khaled Amara’s save of Ghimouz’s hattrick attempt penalty, was something to be excited for (too bad we were already two goals in the hole).  Shockingly, there is still some hope here at the middle of the season.  If our sieve defense could keep some balls away from our opponents a bit more effectively, there’s a chance we can avoid the relegation.  We sit 13th, in the last relegation spot, only on goal differential.  And the cellar teams are truly atrocious.  Let’s turn this around in our next match - IB Lakhdaria is by no means an insurmountable squad.  They sit in 9th, but with only a single point more than CABBA.  A win could catapult CABBA out of the relegation zone and as high as 8th.  It really is a testament between the haves and have nots in League 2 East.  The battle between first and 5th is separated by 4 points, and the battle from 8th to 14th is also a four point gap. 

MATCHDAY 16

CABB ARRÉRIDJ (4-2-9, 13th)  1:3 (0:1)  IB LAKHDARIA (4-3-8, 9th)

42’ - A. Toumi (pen) (IBL)

64’ - Benkouider (IBL)

66’ - Larabi (IBL)

87’ - Abdelhamid Maouche (CAB)

CABBA ON PATH OF NO RETURN - Mehdi Bettache, The Bordj Bou Arréridj Soccer Chronicle

It has become apparent that any trip out to the Stade du 20 Août 1955 is little more than an excuse for fresh air - or an excuse to breathe in cigarette smoke.  Apparently there are still more than 16,500 rubes in this city that either think this team is going to turn it around, or 16,500 masochists who will watch this derailment of a season as a solemn duty.  I am practically at a loss for words at this point to describe what unfolds each week.  We all hoped the turn of the new year might be some sort of trigger, but alas, same lack of talent, same lack of understanding of the game, and same lack of effort.  

For some apparent reason, Rafik Amara decided to go with young back-up keeper Salim Hadded for this match.  Perhaps he wanted to avoid any thoughts of nepotism (though Khaled Amara is of no relation), or perhaps he just flipped a coin, but young Hadded - who hasn’t played since the Algerian Cup Third Round, was gifted an opportunity to throw away one of the few remaining winnable matches of the season.  Any hope that this was to be turning point evaporated upon Hadded’s nomination.  To be fair to Salim, I can’t hold him accountable for inexperience - one must play numerous matches at a high level to attain a full time starting position - and at 16, the fact that he already has four appearances in the league this year is pretty impressive.  But when you play in front of him, four of his peers, and attempt to anchor that with a increasingly frustrated Haroun Bordji (more on that later), it is something that is cruising for a disaster.  Again it was Antar Benyahia who made the foolish tackle in the box, conceding a penalty at the brink of halftime.  CABBA were playing atrocious (as per usual) and one thought we might just escape to half all square at nil, and move to repeat the earlier nil-nil draw in the first leg.  Oh no, let’s not make this easy.  The penalty was trite, easily smashed in with the toddler Hadded with little clue on tendencies or mind games.

What made it worse was CABBA’s approach this game, which appeared to be to hatchet down the attacking IB Lakhdaria team at every opportunity, committing an impressive 21 fouls in the match.  Ole!  And, as usual - though lets be frank it doesn’t really matter anymore - careless fouls are chased with cards, something both Azzedine Derbal and Youcef Haddou were able to “win” (a win is a win, right?) - and earning them a suspension for our next match due to card accumulation.  Perhaps I ought give them the benefit of the doubt - knowing our next match is away to 2nd palace Skikda (who lost their first match of the season today), missing the next game is likely prudent.  A 64th minute cross was completely whiffed on by Haroun Bordji - which is saying something as the only experienced defender, allowing Benkouider to head in past Hadded and putting the game out of reach (it was out of reach at half time!!).  Young Derbal, clearly losing his head, suavely fouled Larabi by flagrantly tripping him.  Yellow number two for the game, and an early shower for Azzedine - who was trying to make certain he didn’t have to travel to Skikda.  Down to 10, CABBA wasted less than a minute to concede their third.  A trio of subs after the red card - including Mohamed Makhlouf - an academy player getting his first minutes on the senior team - was the best Rafik Amara could summon.  Completely lost with the substitutions and position shifts, Lakhdaria went for the jugular, with Larabi bashing in.  Two goals, 3 minutes.  

Being down 3, it would be an impossibility to do anything in open play.  It had, at this point, been 305 minutes (yep, 5 hours!) since CABBA had scored from open play.  With the cataclysm of defense and goalkeeping, Amara made the only smart move of the day and subbed on goalkeeper Khaled Amara to see out the game.

THere was a minor highlight, late in the 87th minute, when Youcef Haddou sent down a through ball that poetically fell to the foot of an open Abdelhamid Maouche, who two touched and then ripped a blast into the twine for the youngsters first ever senior goal.  Too bad it was of little consequence.

After the match, the scuttlebut out of the clubhouse was that Haroun Bordji unleashed a tirade on Rafik Amara, telling him in not so delicate terms, that the team has become worse in the two weeks he has been the coach.  Bordji was upset with the change in formation, which he said was far too complicated for a group of teenagers to manage.  Younes Belferoum - who seems to be resigned the last few weeks - took Bordji’s back.  Haroun apparently demanded to be discharged in the upcoming transfer window.  So if CABBA’s supporters have anything to fear, its that the team may actually lose more talent in the coming weeks, and shun itself to the Division Nationale Amateur.

Bring on Skikda!  They only drubbed us 5-0 at home, so maybe they can go for double digits this Friday night?

MATCHDAY 20

IRB OUARGLA (6-4-9, 8th)  3:0 (2:0)  CABB ARRÉRIDJ (4-3-12, 14th)

25' - Moussaoui (IRBO)

43' - Megfhour (IRBO)

50' - Meghfour (pen) (IRBO)

DESERT OASES BRINGS NO RELIEF TO CABBA'S THIRST FOR GOALS - Mehdi Bettache, The Bordj Bou Arréridj Soccer Chronicle

Ouargla has always been a fascinating place to me.  Carved out of nothing sits the Oil town of 90,000 residents hours from civilization, slapped into the far north Sahara.  600 KMs from home, I made the trek in my own vehicle for 9 hours on Friday, to be ready for another tilt for the boys of CABBA.  Despite the town's stature as an industry town, with residents with money to burn…  attending football on a Saturday is often not in the cards.  In fact, our boys had the home crowd advantage, with over 300 supporters making the arduous journey.  It is a show of commitment, as I feel they all knew they were not going to see anything poignant or exciting.  Just a meager 150 or so locals came out to support IRB Ouargla who, in all honestly, picked to finish poorly, have been having a decent go at it.  Not the same to be said for Les Criquets.  Another opportunity for many minutes for the young teenagers in defense, with Hamid Sahraoui and Naim Hamzaoui took rare starts.  Disgruntled and disenfranchised defender Haroun Bordji did not make the trip, on account of yellow card accumulation.  One wonders if that wasn't deliberate to avoid the bumpy long trip to the desert.  As usual, the youthful defense were again a bit out of their league, with Ammar Moussaoui taking the lead in the 25th, unmarked, albeit from 24 yards.  Keeper Khaled Amara was far from masterful on the gorgeous winter day - where temperatures struck 18 at kick-off.  Beyond being out of position on Moussaoui's goal, Amara was beaten on a set piece direct free kick from 26 yards by Mohamed Megfhour.  Megfhour cleared the wall of 5, but for some reason Amara left the far post unreachable, and before halftime, the boys were once again in a hole to deep to clear.  After the interval, naive Hamid Sahraoui made a foolish tackle in the box - a completely unnecessary challenge, that allowed Megfhour to easily get a brace with a penalty in the 50th minute.  Amara has now allowed 31 goals this season, to 57 saves.  Not really an impressive number, but still better than when we have our 16 year Salim Hadded between the sticks.

CABBA did announce a new U-21 head coach - Abdelghani Khellaf, who joins from filling the same role at JSM Chéraga.  To be seen if he has any gumption to take what is now a fairly seasoned group of youth, and build us a bit of a future.  Entrenched now firmly in the relegation places, CABBA now hosts fellow relegation fodder JSM Béjaïa.  Perhaps a win?  Something we have not tasted in 2 months?  Let's hope…

MATCHDAY 21

CABB ARRÉRIDJ  2:2 (1:1)  JAM BÉJAÏA

19' - Rabah Moussaoui (6th) (CABB)

42' - Khelifi (JSMB)

66' - Merabti (JSMB)

90+5' - Tarek Toumi (2ns) (CABB)

CABB Rescues Points in Last Gasp - Sid Ahmed Belkheïr, The Algerian Soccer Chronicle

What looked like another disappointing and dooming result was rescued from death with essentially the final breath of the match.  With the clock reading 94:30, teenage DM Tarek Toumi headed in a cross from Zakaria Ghalem to ensure a 2:2 draw at the Stade de 20 Août 1955.  The fans,  who have remained loyal to the team despite its terrible run, erupted in joy, as les criquets picked up a a point that still left them in 15th in the Algeria League 1 - East table.  It was an incredible windy day - with gusts exceeding 60 km/h - but an otherwise pleasant afternoon in Bordj Bou Arréridj.  CABBA opted to make some substitutions with suspensions expiring.  Disenfranchised defensive back Haroun Bordji returned to the starting XI along with teenage back Azzedine Derbal (for Naïm Hamzaoui).  Manager Amara again swapped up his striker - as the team is not set on who should fill this role regularly, opting again for teen Rabah Moussaoui.  This seemed a prophetic choice as Moussaoui was to put CABBA on the board first.  In the 19th minute on a counter attach, CABBA played the ball up the right side.  Younes Belferoum looked to make a cross but instead played a ball to Haroun Bordji at the the top of the box.  No JSM player marked Moussaoui specifically, and he was able to weave through the box and jump to head Bordji's service past JSM keeper Bouzid, and put CABBA in a rare lead

Béjaïa moved into a more solid possession game after conceding, and shortly before the half time whistle they were able to concoct an equalizer.  Billel Mirabti was able to run deep into the box and draw much defense.  He then low crossed a dangerous ball that numerous CABBA boys could have cleared.  Alas, the ball found its way in the path of a sprinting Khelifi who was one step beyond Haroun Bordji and deposited the ball in goal.  In the 66th, Béjaïa captured the lead off of a short corner.  Aymen Zerrouki made an uncontested pass into a crowded box.  Billel Mirabti one touched a shot from the pass that bounced and miraculously missed the 9 players between him and goal, and Béjaïa took a 2-1 lead with one quarter of the match remaining.  It definitely looked unlikely for CABBA, and many int he stadium assumed another opportunity would be squandered.  Alas, Toumi would grab the glory and bring some electricity back to the squad, if only for a few moments.

The match was important for both squads, as it was an opportunity for two relegation positioned clubs to pick up 3 points against a poor opponent.  Both squads failed in that endeavour.  Perhaps CABBA's best chance at another win comes in the next match where they travel back into the Sahara to play NRB Touggourt, the team sitting bottom of the table with just 2 wins and 2 draws in 21 matches.  However, Touggourt just raised eyebrows by knocking off MO Constantine 1-0 with a late strike, so in typical CABBA fashion, they come to play the worst team at a time where their spirits are high.  As we move into the back half of the calendar, the matches now begin to spread out, and it will be nearly two weeks before the next tilt.  This bodes well for CABBA, as Abdeslam Zerrouki - the 21 year old striker who has been out over two and a half months with broken ribs, should be a once again available for action.  Rumours also have it that CABBA is attempting to enter the loan market for a couple of League 1 U-21 DMs, including both 17 year old ES Sétif player Rachid Sandjak and 17 year old Paradou AC Ryad Belkeïr.  The loan market is crowded, so both home clubs will be able to be choosy on where they allow their players to go.

MATCHDAY 22

NRB TOUGGOURT (2-2-17, 16th)  0:1 (0:0)  CABB ARRÉRIDJ (4-4-13, 15th)

69' - Abdeslam Zerrouki (pen)

Les Criquets End 8 Match Winless Streak - Kamel Maouche, Algerian Soccer Messenger

Young Manager Rafik Amara finally found his first victory as manager, in his ninth attempt, to end CABBA's horrendous two month spell.  Amara was hired on December 19th, with the squad at the time in 14th place following the tragic start of the previous unexperienced manager, Qasim Morceli.  Ironic, that despite the change, most CABBA supporters would relish the opportunity to return to Morceli's tenure.  Amara has put up a less than impressive 1-2-6 record in his nine matches in charge.  Alas, perhaps the common thread is not the manager, but rather what the manager has to work with.  For most of the season, CABBA has started upwards 5 young teens - those 16 and under - due to a lack of players on the squad.  One can fault neither Amara or Morceli for being dealt a roster that was lean on talent.  The recent performances of the squad hasn't helped in bolstering the talent level, as CABBA had three offers rejected in the most recent transfer window.  It is likely that the squad is going to not survive the Algerian 2nd League and most likely will be relegated into the next tier - the Division Nationale Amateur.  This might help the squad reset - expectations will be more realistic, and the squad can focus on developing these youth that have gained so much first level football this season.  It would also allow for a more plausible recruitment process, where the team can focus on finding some real talent in Bordj Bou Arréridj.  

The victory that ended the slide came away from home, at bottom dwellers NRB Touggourt a team who surprised in the Division Nationale Amateur, but clearly out matched in the 2nd league.  Touggourt has but 8 points on the season now, and are 10 points behind 15th place JSM Béjaïa.  With the bottom four teams relegated, its seems Touggourt's stay is all but finished.  There is still much to play for with respect to CABBA, as they are amonst a group of 5 teams separated by 3 points.  Three of those five will go down, but there is undoubted competition left to be had over the remaining eight match days.  The two squads from Béjaïa are both struggling, as are the two squads from Annaba.  CABBA faces two of these four squads in the final 8 matches.  

The victory for CABBA was more a stroke of playing such dismal competition, than it was a dominant victory.  Abdeslam Zerrouki returned to the starting line-up having missed 12 weeks as a result of broken ribs suffered in the match against CA Batna.  Zerrouki is far from a world class talent - he brings a ton of height, but for a striker, his first touch is clumsy and his speed is slow.  Alas, his 2.03 metres can do a lot for the team, and he understands how to sell the foul, which is exactly what happened in the second half.  Zerrouki took a tumble, and drew the penalty call.  Captain Younes Belferoum made the decision to let Zerrouki take his own penalty, and he slotted home, which was a welcome return after his injury forced sabbatical.  Content to throw away whatever leads they acquire, CABBA then returned the favour, with Kada Bacha making a terrible challenge in his own box three minutes later, earning a yellow in the process.  But here is where the talent gap with Touggourt appeared, as Mohamed Hadji telegraphed his penalty shot, and keeper Khaled Amara was able to dive left and push the ball out for a corner.  It was a rare moment of team bonding for CABBA, as the whole squad unleashed a torrent of emotion.  The match was otherwise quite a dull affair, with the teams combining for just 13 shots on goal (including two penalties).  In a rare feat, CABBA held more than 50% possession for the first time in a long time.  

As the match calendar slows in the back half of the season, CABBA now has just over two weeks to prep for their next match at home.  It will be a challenging one, as 5th place MO Constantine come to town.  Perhaps with some luck, CABBA will land a couple loans to help the team fight out of the relegation zone.  And perhaps Rafik Amara can do something with his lone victory - somehow spin that to something positive, and try and build some harmony in the clubhouse.  However, I would not hold my breath.

MATCHDAY 23

CABB ARRÉRIDJ (5-4-13, 14th)  0:2 (0:1)  MO CONSTANTINE (14-4-4, 5th)

19' - Bouhessane (MOC)

63' - Kismoun (MOC)

CABBA Return to Old Ways; Drop Points at Home - Tahar Belhaoua, Algerian Soccer Express

Two weeks to revel in a rare victory might be the only joy Les Criquets get, as their attempt to put together a winning streak was rudely crushed by 5th in the table MO Constantine.  Despite 16,000 plus at the stadium, the outcome was never really in doubt, as CABBA struggled for both possession and meaningful shots in the match.  It saddens how many players turned in subpar performances this late in the season - Antar Benyahia, Khaled Amara, Kada Bacha, Zakaria Ghalem - all looked poor.  Worst of the lot were Tarek Toumi and Abdeslam Zerrouki - neither of which looked like they belonged on any semi-professional pitch.  CABBA put just a single shot on target, and only attempted 7 throughout the match.  Possession was a dismal 42%.  To be fair, MO Constantine didn't exactly light it up, however they were content to play possession for much of the 2nd half, seldomly probing for much as the result was already a forgone conclusion.   Bouhessane's opener was not exactly magic - but a case of a confused defense that somehow lost their man.  Antar Benyahia was to blame on this one.  With so many defenders packed in the box, it was hard for Khaled Amara to see the strike, which wasn't particularly fiery.  it was a simple kick to the open side of the goal, and the score was 1-nil inside 20 minutes.  With little in the way of offensive prowess, that was about all MOC needed.  Things looked similar in the 63rd.  Azzedine Derbal was caught napping, and a give and go from Midoune allowed a sprinting Kismoun to score from 6 yards out unopposed.  There was some rightful challenge for offside - and to be frank it is likely a call missed by the referees.  Alas, the result wouldn't have changed, and so - despite pleads from the CABBA sideline, the call stood.  Bacha, Benyahia, and Haroun Bordji really needed to do better in being alert for the streaking striker.

CABBA remain in 14th, with just 7 matches to try and claw their way out of relegation spots - 12th is only 2 points away, so never say never.  CABBA will host 3rd place JS Bordj Menaïel coming to Bordj Bou Arréridj in two weeks time.  Things have been so tough lately that some of CABBA's alumni - chief among them beloved defender Abderrahmane Hachoud - who played for Cabba back in 2007 - 2010 - spoke up to say that the fans and board must give Rafik Amara more time to succeed.  Hachoud - who has appeared in 15 matches for JS Kabylie - stated that patience needed to reign supreme.  Making a rash decision to terminate yet another manager will do the players little service, and may drive some of the youth out of the program.  Hachoud of course wants nothing but for CABBA to succeed, but whether the board or supporters have the requisite patience is to be seen - most people want to put out a dumpster fire as quick as possible to remove the eye sore.