Tragedy strikes Algerian football as bus crash claims two lives
The Algerian football community is in mourning after a horrific bus crash that killed the goalkeeper and assistant coach of MC El Bayadh, a top-flight club. The accident also left ten other players injured, some of them critically.
The team was on its way to Tizi Ouzou, where they were supposed to face JS Kabylie in a league match on Saturday. According to the Algerian Football Federation, the bus crashed in Tiaret, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Mediterranean coast. The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, but witnesses reported that the bus swerved off the road and hit a tree.
The federation announced that it had decided to “suspend all footballing activities nationwide this weekend across all leagues and competitions” as a sign of respect and solidarity. It also postponed the draw for the next round of the Algerian Cup, which was due to take place on December 26.
The president of the federation, Kheireddine Zetchi, expressed his “deep sadness and sincere condolences” to the families of the victims and the club. He also wished a “speedy recovery” to the injured players.
The club’s president, Abdelkader Gherbi, said he was “devastated” by the news and that the club had lost “two members of our family”. He thanked the federation and the other clubs for their support and sympathy.
The coach of JS Kabylie, Denis Lavagne, said he was “shocked and saddened” by the tragedy and that he had “no words” to describe his feelings. He said he hoped that the injured players would recover soon and that the club would honour the memory of the deceased.
The bus crash is one of the worst accidents in the history of Algerian football, and has cast a dark shadow over the sport in the country. The fans and players of MC El Bayadh and other clubs have been holding vigils and prayers for the victims and their families. The whole nation is united in grief and sorrow.
