With the Algerian ice hockey team, Harond Litim leads the puck revolution

by time news

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Captain and coach-player of a surprising Algerian ice hockey team, Harond Litim cultivates international dreams for his team. But the mountain seems high to climb.

” You are read Rasta Rockett quoi ! As in a snowball fight, Harond Litim took the remark in the face when he went for the first time to solicit the Algerian State, through his consul in Vitry (a suburb of Paris), to help with his ice hockey team. However, no vexation for the former Evry player who still laughs about it today, so much he took the cinematographic reference every time he talks about his team

Not recognized as a federation by the Algerian state

Joking aside, the Algerian ice hockey team, launched in 2008, now recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation since September 2019, intends to develop and integrate official international competitions.

It will first be necessary to convince the Algerian government of the “usefulness” of a team of Fennecs who slide on the ice. After the consul of Vitry, Harond Litim was indeed answered by the former president of the Algerian Olympic committee: “ But there is no ice rink in Algeria! »

« What are we waiting for do”, retorts the hockey player who was born and raised in Étampes in the Parisian suburbs. ” There are more important things to do in Algeria than an ice rink… »

An answer that is not easy to take for Harond Litim, born to an Algerian father from Constantine. ” The International Ice Hockey Federation recognizes us, but our government does not recognize us. Today, we have no help from the Algerian state, because we are only recognized as an association and not as a federation. That’s the big problem “, he explains.

In the meantime, the team is solidifying under the impetus of 100% bi-national players playing in France (“60% of the workforce”), Canada (30%), England, Switzerland and Sweden. It thus won its first match in an official competition against Andorra (14-5) during the Development Cup organized last May in Füssen (Germany).

The Development Cup, a kind of international tournament, brings together six new ice hockey nations like Algeria. Litim and his friends beat Portugal after Andorra before losing to Ireland (7-6).

« We are aiming for a qualification for the world championships »

A new experience in the evolution of the Algerian team created 12 years ago. ” It is Karim Kerbouche who is at the origin of this teamrecalls Litim. He was himself an ice hockey player. One day, he saw on television a certain Josef Boumedienne who was playing in Toronto (Canada). He said to himself: “If there is a Boumedienne in this team, there must be other Algerians who practice this sport elsewhere in the world”. He contacted me, and with other players in France, we made a selection and it was like that ».

Since then, the Greens have been calibrating through invitational tournaments all over the world: Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Canada, etc. But too little for Harond Litim who dreams of a bigger stage.

« Me, I’m crazylaughs the Chambéry player coach who is not yet thinking of retiring at 44. We are aiming for the qualifications for the world championships, the Olympic qualifications, even if I admit that it will be impossible. But let us be given the opportunity to represent our country in qualifying for the next World Cup. In the next five years, I see participation in international qualifications. »

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