Championnat national de football, 2008 - 2009

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Mise à jour du championnat de DI
JSK – RCK :
Finir sur une bonne note

Victoire de la JS Kabylie face au RC Kouba (1-0)

Samedi 7 Février 2009 -- La JS Kabylie s’est imposée devant le RC Kouba (1-0), en match de mise à jour du calendrier du Championnat national de division une de football disputé hier à Tizi Ouzou. L’unique but de la rencontre a été inscrit par Adlane Bensaïd à la (17e minute). Cette victoire permet aux «Canaris» de partager la 6e place avec le CR Belouizdad avec un total de 23 points, alors que le RC Kouba reste accroché à la 16e place avec 15 points.

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6 matches à huis clos pour l’USM El Harrach

Mardi 10 Février 2009 -- L’USM El Harrach a écopé de six matches à huis clos suite aux incidents qui se sont produits lors de sa rencontre face à l’ES Sétif le 30 janvier dernier. Ce match a été interrompu par l’arbitre à la 61’, juste après le second but inscrit par l’ES Sétif. Un but que les Jaune et Noir ont contesté. En plus des 6 matches à huis clos pour l’USM El Harrach, la ligue a homologué la victoire de l’ES Sétif. L’entraîneur adjoint, Bechouche Nacer, est interdit de banc de remplacement pendant 10 matches.

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Algerian football officials penalise USMH for ESS match riot

February 10, 2009 -- The disciplinary committee of Algeria's D1 football league imposed a heavy sanction on USM El Harrach on Monday (February 9th) by requiring the Algiers club to play six closed-door matches, El Khabar reported. According to a press release, the committee spent ten days reviewing film footage of the match against ES Setif on January 30th before deciding to hold El Harrach responsible for the sports fan violence.

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JSM Bejaia finalises deal with French coach

February 11, 2009 -- JSM Bejaia signed French coach Jean-Yves Chay to a 17-month contract, Liberté reported on Tuesday (February 10th). Chay replaces Djamel Menad, who resigned at the end of last month. Club president Zahir Tiab said Chay will officially take the club's helm on February 15th.

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Three away victories in 17th round of Algerian football championship

February 16, 2009 -- Round 17 of the Algerian football championship, which ended Sunday (February 15th), saw three away victories by ES Setif, JS Kabylie and RC Kouba.

ES Setif (ESS) managed to get out of a tight spot, returning from AS Khroub with three points from a 3-0 win. ESS have consolidated their position at the top of the table, resting 5 points ahead of rivals JSM Bejaia.

JSM Bejaia held pace with ESS, also securing a 3-0 win over MSP Batna.

"We achieved the main thing, which was to win the match, and not to give away any goals," said Bejaia team coach Samy Boussekine. "I also think those who came to the stadium today were happy, given that the team managed to combine skill and style, winning a well-deserved victory."

New MSP Batna coach Liamine Boughrara said the team was going through a difficult spell.

"I found the team to be ailing," he said. "They obviously did not take advantage of the winter break in the championship. I have lots of work ahead of me... [but] confidence and optimism are still our aim."

On their end, JSK confirmed their gradual return to form, beating NA Hussein Dey by 1 goal to nil on their home turf in Algiers.

In Annaba, the local Union Sportive scored an expected victory against CR Belouizdad of Algiers, by 2 goals to 1.

"We did what we needed to in terms of play, and the crowd saw a good match. But I'm incensed at this so-called refereeing," said CRB coach Mohamed Henkouche. "I’m not in the habit of criticising the referees. [But] he made too many mistakes, which meant that the best side on the pitch couldn't win."

His counterpart from USM Annaba, Ifticen Younes spoke quite differently.

"It was a good match, and each of the two sides had their half. The first half was my team's half, and they managed to score two goals. In the second half, we didn’t give a good account of ourselves," he commented. "It has to be said that the state of the pitch didn't do much for us. Overall, it was a good win... we've got to keep our feet on the ground and keep up the work."

USM Algiers, meanwhile, continues to rack up poor performances, with another defeat (1-0) against CA Bordj Bou Arreridj.

"I'm disappointed and frustrated at this defeat because, the way the game was, we should have been able to come away with a good result," said USMA coach Kamel Moussa.

"Unfortunately, things went badly, and we can only blame ourselves for having missed the opportunity to score points away from home," he concluded.

USM Blida also missed the mark, suffering a heavy defeat (3-1) against MC El Eulma.

USM Blida coach Nassim Abdaali was shocked. "A defeat is always hard to swallow, whatever the opponent's level or the type of match you're playing. We left the Algerian Cup a round before the quarterfinals... but we must forget it as soon as possible. It's imperative, particularly in our current position in the championship."

Blida is the back-marker in the table, with just 14 points.

The day's play was short one match, MC Algiers vs. USM El Harrach, which was postponed.

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ES Setif solidify Algerian football league lead

February 22, 2009 -- After consolidating their top spot on Day 18 by defeating JSM Bejaia 1-0, Entente Sportive de Sétif are a big step closer to winning this year’s Algerian D1 league title. ESS now top the table with 37 points, eight ahead of tied teams Bejaia and CAB Bordj Bou Arreridj.

From the outset of the match against Bejaia on Thursday (February 19th), Setif looked determined to claim the three-point win. A goal from Nabil Hemani in the 45th minute was all it took.

"It was an enjoyable game between two teams who play great football," ESS manager Azzedine Ait Djoudi told reporters. "This is the first time we’ve come up against a well-organised team and they caused us a few problems. Luckily we were able to get on the scoresheet by half time," he said.

"It's a major success for us because it stands us in good stead for the matches to come and takes the pressure off us," he added.

His newly-appointed French counterpart, Bejaia manager Jean-Yves Chay, said the Setif goal during extra time spoiled his plans. "Coming into the match we knew we’d be up against it. We were playing a strong team from Setif. We tried to hold our own, but unfortunately we conceded a goal which took the wind out of our sails as soon as it came in stoppage time. That’s exactly what you don’t need in matches like this. Although we lost, I think my players acquitted themselves well overall."

"It’s true that there are now eight points separating us and Setif, and catching up will be no easy task," Chay admitted. "We’ll pull out all the stops to try to finish in the top three at the end of the season to ensure we can represent our country in an African competition next season."

In Tizi Ouzou, JSK fans hoped their heroes' remarkable comeback would continue and take them to second place in the table. While the Kabylians’ dominance of the match appeared to promise a satisfying outcome, all JSK could manage against USM Alger was a goalless draw.

"I’m extremely disappointed," Coach Jean Christian Lang said. "Thank goodness the result was okay, even though we have a lot of regrets about missing a golden opportunity to take the match. In fact we let a lot of chances slip through our fingers. In football you’ve got to keep things simple to play effectively, but we tend to make things complicated, especially at the front," he commented.

The draw was good news to the relieved USMA coach, Kamel Moussa.

"Today we proved that nothing is impossible in a football match," Moussa said. "Most people thought we were headed for certain defeat against JSK, but as you saw, things didn’t turn out that way because we strengthened our midfield and defence."

Moussa noted the absence of several players but said the valuable point should take some of the pressure off his players. "I think it was a good result for us and it will make things easier for my team," he told reporters.

At the Stade 20 Août 1955 in Algiers, CR Belouizdad disappointed in their first home match of the second half of the season by drawing 1-1 against CA Bordj Bou Arreridj. CABBA, who currently hold a joint second in the table with JSMB, owe a debt of gratitude to their captain; Samir Bentayeb equalised Khalil Boukedjane's early goal in the dying moments of the match.

"Although we were up against a big team, we came with the intention of getting a good result," Bentayeb said after the game. "Although we had to come from behind, we never lost our belief that we could do it. Our efforts were rewarded and we clinched a draw, which will do us a power of good."

Bentayeb added, "Given the way the match went as a whole, we didn’t deserve to lose."

For his part, CRB coach Mohamed Henkouche blamed his squad for the disappointing result. "Quite honestly, I don’t understand what happened. I’m particularly baffled by the attitude of my players, who lacked motivation. They play completely differently from one game to the next. I think the problem is in their heads. It’s a mental block we’re suffering from," he said angrily.

Also in Algiers on Thursday, MC Alger excelled with a 2-0 win over bottom-ranked RC Kouba, thanks to Hamza Yacef and recent addition Jean-Marc Benié. The victory came as a relief to a team that has gone through a management crisis.

"It’s a very big win and it should enable the team to move forward calmly and with peace of mind," MCA chairman Sadek Amrous said.

In other Day 18 matches, MSP Batna and l'USM Annaba played to a goalless draw, while USM El Harrach and NA Hussein-Dey achieved the same results behind closed doors.

USM Blida, meanwhile, are still languishing with RCK and MC Saida at the bottom of the table; their 1-0 win against AS Khroub Thursday was not enough to improve their position. USMB have just 17 points.

Day 18 continued on Friday, with ASO Chlef beating guests MC Saida 3-2 in a postponed match. The win helped ASO rise to joint fourth place in the table with JS Kabylie on 27 points with a game in hand.

MC Saida are still 15th with 19 points.

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ASO Chlef to sign Guinean goalkeeper

February 25, 2009 -- ASO Chlef is expected to sign Fello Star goalkeeper Youssouf Toure in the first week of March, El Watan reported on Wednesday (February 25th). The decision to sign the Guinean goalkeeper was made after watching Toure play during the ACL matches between Chlef and Fello Star in the African Champions League first round.