Pentagon Challenge - Season 3 (2025/26) - Part 1

 

Season 2025/26 - CS Constantine - Algerian Ligue 1

So, as the pre-season was underway, we are predicted to finish 5th.  US Biskra are also expected to avoid relegation, and I do hope they manage it.

When at my interview, I did say I'd like to take my next coaching badge (I did manage to get my National C last season but forgot to mention it in the previous posts), however the Chairman said  he didn't think it would be necessary.  Regardless, I thought I'd ask again once I was actually in the hotseat.

To my surprise, they actually agreed.

Pre-season results were very much a mixed bag:

It turned out we were in a Continental competition, the CAF Confederation Cup.  I think that may be the African equivalent of the Europa League, but I'm not completely sure on that.  However, it doesn't really matter too much as Zambian side Zesco United beat us 3-2 over the two leg Preliminary Round.  We'd looked decent in the first leg, but in the away leg we were all over the place.  We did then take out our frustration on poor CR Village Moussa who didn't know what hit them.

September 2025

Once we'd got over the disappointment of the CAF Confederation Cup, we got off to a very nice start in League competition with two very good wins in the league, followed by a cup win over ASO Chlef.  The tactic was starting to gel quite nicely as we looked very dangerous in attack whilst managing to avoid conceding.

October 2025

Another exceptional month in terms of results, as we manage to maintain the 100% record in the league.  However, we weren't quite as solid at the back throughout this month as only one clean sheet was kept from the 5 games, but I can't be too bothered seeing as we won every game and still look very good in attack.

November 2025

Only three matches this month, but again all were won.The 5-0 win over USM Alger was especially impressive, given they are predicted to finish above us.  Again, some wonkiness at the bank saw us concede more than I would like, but another excellent month in front of goal at least.

December 2025

I guess it was too much to expect, or hope, that the undefeated run could go on too much longer.  I knew CR Bélouizdad would be stiff opposition seeing as they've won the league title for the last 6 seasons in a row.  We certainly weren't terrible in the game, but they were very deserving winners.  We did follow it up with a win in both the league and the cup, but then stumbled again against Paradou AC who at that point had been hovering just above the relegation zone, so I had expected a better result.  We did actually go ahead in that game, but then they just found their shooting boots and managed to put us away with a second 3-1 defeat of the season.  We did then beat US Biskra 4-0 (sorry lads) in a match we dominated, and followed that up with another win in both the league and the cup.

So, as things stand at the halfway the season, with 13 wins from 15, you'd think we'd be fairly well clear.

Well, it doesn't work that way with both CR Bélouizdad and USM Alger hot on our heels, although we are top..... just.  The top 3 are way ahead of everyone else though.

And as December came to its end, I had the news item to tell me I'd completed the National B licence, so I thought I'd try my luck and see if the club would let me go for the next badge.

The club are thankfully on board with the idea.  I'm guessing the good league position was a factor, but also the fact the club is doing quite well financially probably helps.  Unlike US Biskra who were perpetually in the red (probably not helped by the fact they only seem to get around 2,000 people in at home games), we have almost £2m in the bank.

It will be interesting to see if we can maintain this kind of form for the rest of the season.