Algerian Ice Hockey

[AAIIH]

Interview with Karim Kerbouche

You’re just back from the week long training camp in Paris, how did it go?

Was a great success, the new players mixed in nicely with the players from last years Arab Cup, great atmosphere in the locker room, very positive. The new players are talented and great additions to the team.

Who were the new players and what did you think of them?

Two Swedish Algerians, Ali Khaldi an experienced guy, big, intelligent, and Felix Chougui, skillful young player who played in Swedish Division 1 last season. Two young guys from France, Ali Chenini and Jordi Abbas, bring lots of energy to the team, two very experienced brothers Karim and Mourad Chaiblaine, another experienced guy from France Bachir Aghroud, a young goalie from London only just turned 16, Khalid Abdulwahid, and an aggressive young defender Akim Bouchabane who I like alot and think can be a great player for the future.

Being there from the start, what was it like to be part of the first ever victory?

wow was an amazing feeling, I felt so proud, still get a nice feeling inside when I think about it. Was the first but many more to come inshallah.

So what next for Team Algeria?

Arab Cup, African Nations Cup, exhibition games, events in Algeria, not sure yet really but we’ll know in the coming weeks.

Who is the AJOAH and what is their conflict with the AAIIH?

They are a small group of players who were on last years Arab Cup team and didn’t like how things were managed so decided to form their own association. They’ve formed this association which they’re well within their rights to do, however we do have a problem with some of the claims they’ve made publicly, but I wont discuss that as it may involved legal proceedings. To make it clear though: we are the original founders from 2006.

There were some reports you were dating Amelle Berrabah from the Sugababes, any truth in this?

No, I’m not sure where the story came from, but I was contacted by a couple of British newspapers about it, and someone from The Mirror newspaper was on my personal facebook page scouting me out, and had a couple of her fans message me.

Now time for some questions from the public

“how did u get into hockey?” asked by Nour

When I was 13 I was playing NHL on the Sega Megadrive and all the fighting and hitting amused me, on my birthday I asked my mum to take me to see a live game and to my suprise it really happened, I loved it and started to skate.

“have u got a girl friend” asked by Djouher

haha no I don’t.

“where would you like to be with this few yrs down the line” asked by Mona

Personally or the Algerian team? Well I’d like to see Algeria in the division 3 World Championships…

“Why is did you choose ice hockey as you favourite sport” asked by Siham

I like contact sports, and once I started playing I couldn’t get enough.

OK thanks for you time Karim.

Algerian Ice and Inline Hockey Association ~ AAIHH ~ Interview with Karim Kerbouche

[AAIIH]

Prohockeynews.com The Best Place for Minor Hockey News

Algerian hockey competes and wins in Paris
Hockey reaches Algeria
Karim Kerbouche
Jun 16, 2009 - 1:18:26 PM

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ALGIERS, ALGERIA – Ice hockey is no longer the providence of the Great White North or the North American continent for that matter. In May, Pro Hockey News reported on a tournament in Dubai attended by the New Mexico Scorpions head coach Randy Murphy. Ex-pats and locals in many non-traditional countries have begun to play the game and extend the reach of the sport enjoyed in Europe, United Kingdom and North America. Algeria is one of those non-traditional markets enjoying a growth in interest in the sport.

In 2008, we had a week long training camp in London, England, to warm-up for the Arab Cup. The Algerian side played four local teams and won all four games. This year’s training camp was in Paris and proved to be a bit more difficult as two games were scheduled against physical French Division 1 team Viry Chatillon.

Thanks to our sponsors, and the organization of Algerian captain and Viry player Harond Litim, we were able to get two sessions of on-ice training per day.

Also joining our staff was Guy Janodet, a physiologist with the French national ice hockey and skating teams, and various Algerian football teams which train in France in the summer. We had access to his facility which had gym, Jacuzzi, sauna and swimming pool for off-ice training and relaxation.

With the good foundation of last years players plus the addition of some new players, the team bonded quickly. We still had the same problem as last year though, goaltending. In last year’s Arab Cup it was our biggest weakness, our starting goalie was 52-years old.


Photo by Pascal Chapuis
This year we had a new set of goalies, but stronger goalie, a 27-year old playing in France, pulled out last minute, leaving us with 16 year old Khalid Abdulwahid who plays junior in UK.

Our first game against Viry was two days into our week-long camp, and it showed as we lost 11-4, lacking chemistry.

The next two days we spent working on line combinations, with drills concentrating on those particular chosen lines.

In our second game, we played much better, but were still down 5-4 in the 3rd period. With around 2 minutes left Harond Litim was awarded a penalty shot, scoring to tie the game. The goal spurred the Algerian team on, and with under a minute left Swedish division 1 player Felix Chougui put the game winner away from a mad scramble in front of the net.

This game would go down as Team Algeria's first ever victory, and it felt great to be part of it.


Photo by Pascal Chapuis
Unfortunately, this year there will be no Arab Cup, Kuwait who were supposed to host this year’s competition have decided to concentrate on their newly formed Kuwaiti National League. The United Arab Emirates has also shown no interest in hosting the tournament for a second year as they already held a major tournament this year, the Asia Cup in March.

We are currently discussing other options as a replacement, with the possibility of exhibition games against newly formed Middle Eastern teams such as Bahrain, and maybe even an African Nations Cup held in South Africa.

These are exciting years for the Algerian hockey side and we are equally excited to bring this to Pro Hockey News.

Contact karim.kerbouche@prohockeynews.com

Editor’s Note: Mr Kerbouche recently joined the staff of Pro Hockey News and will cover the Algerian national hockey team and provide coverage on ice hockey in the Arab World.


© Copyright 2009 by Prohockeynews.com

[AAIIH]

This is the first event of its kind within the African Continent. The very first addition of the African Nations Cup of Ice Hockey will be contested between 3 Countries. The Countries are South Africa, Algeria and Morocco.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from Saturday 19th September to Saturday 26th September 2009.

The venue is Festival Mall Ice Rink which is situated withing Festival Shopping Centre in Kempton Park.

The games will be played from 17:15 to 19:30 daily.
There will be practice sessions every morning starting at 7am with RSA having the ealy morning practices. Anybody who like to attend these sessions and watch the teams is more then welcome as they will be free.

The schedule for the 2009 edition of the African Nations Cup of Ice Hockey is as Follow:

Saturday 19 September 2009 - RSA vs Algeria 17:15
Sunday 20th September 2009 - RSA vs Morocco 17:15
Monday 21st September 2009 - Morocco vs Algeria 17:15
Tuesday 22nd September 2009 - RSA vs Algeria 17:15
Wednesday 23rd September 2009 - OFF DAY
Thursday 24th September 2009 - Algeria Vs Morocco 17:15
Friday 25th September 2009 - RSA vs Morocco 17:15
Saturday 26th September 2009 - Final 17:15

The final game will be contested by the 2 teams with most wins or points at the end of the 6 preliminary games.

There will be a after party on the Saturday Evening after the game. The venue will be determined at a later stage.

The Rosters of the teams competing in the 2009 addition will be posted as soon as they are available.

There is little known about the Algerian and Moroccan National teams other then thay competed in the ARAB Cup in 2008. Both National teams have a number of players applying their trade as semi-professionals and professions in teams in Europe as well as in Canada.

The South African team will be made up of players who all play locally for this year. We are hoping that with some backing we will be able to get our players from Canada, Switzerland and Scotland for the 2010 installment of the championships.

We hope to have your support and to fill the rink everynight.

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Algerian Ice and Inline Hockey Association ~ AAIHH ~ Sugababe and Algerian ice hockey player linked

Amelle Berrabah Pics attending Fashion Relief Show - Amelle Berrabah - Zimbio

She is currently embarking on a solo career and has since released four studio albums including one compilation. Her fifth album will soon be released anytime this year. She is also currently dating Karim Kerbouche, an ice hockey player.