Hassania Agadir's Upcoming Challenge in the Botola Pro
Following a successful season opener on Sunday where Hassania Agadir triumphed over Kawkab de Marrakech with a score of 3-2 in the Botola Pro, the team is now gearing up to face Moghreb de Fès in the second round of matches. However, this time, the Agadir club finds itself once again having to compete away from home. The new season of the Botola Pro is filled with fresh challenges, yet it also brings to light ongoing issues, particularly concerning the availability of sports facilities.
Despite their impressive victory against Kawkab de Marrakech, Hassania Agadir is now confronted with the pressing challenge of securing a stadium to host the reigning Moroccan champions, Moghreb de Fès. Due to ongoing renovation work at the Grand Stade d’Agadir in anticipation of the 2030 World Cup, the team, led by coach Hilal Et-Tair, is compelled to relocate their upcoming match.
Logistical Hurdles and Alternative Venues
Initially, the municipal stadium in Berrechid was viewed as a favorable option for hosting the match. The management of Hassania Agadir had received approval from the municipal council to hold the game there. However, local authorities ultimately denied the request, citing a scheduling conflict with a match between Jeunesse Sportive de Soualem and Jeunesse Sportive d’El Massira. Mhand Ahraba, the general secretary of Hassania Agadir, conveyed this disappointment in a statement to SNRTnews, stating, "We had the council's agreement to play our match against MAS in Berrechid, but local authorities refused due to the other scheduled match on Sunday."
In light of this setback, Hassania Agadir has turned to the El Bachir stadium in El Mohammedia as an alternative. The club has initiated contact with the city's officials and has received preliminary approval to host Moghreb de Fès there. Ahraba further mentioned, "We have contacted the authorities in El Mohammedia and received a preliminary agreement to hold our match against MAS. We are just waiting for an official correspondence from local authorities. However, I believe there is a 95% chance we will play this match in El Mohammedia, barring any last-minute surprises. A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow between HUSA officials and security authorities." This situation imposes significant logistical constraints on the Agadir club, as the road distance between Agadir and Berrechid is approximately 423 kilometers, translating to nearly 4 hours and 15 minutes of travel time. If the match is indeed held in El Mohammedia, the distance increases to around 478 kilometers, with an estimated travel time of nearly 4 hours and 47 minutes.
Moreover, Hassania Agadir is not alone in facing these challenges at the start of the season. Newly promoted Amal Tiznit is also experiencing similar difficulties, having hosted Ittihad de Tanger at the El Bachir stadium in El Mohammedia for their first match in the Botola Pro, as their own field is closed for renovations. For both Hassania and Amal Tiznit, the sporting stakes are compounded by the additional burden of having to host their opponents hundreds of kilometers away from their home fans and usual playing venues.
As reported by snrtnews.com.
