In the 1941–42 season, USM Alger is competing in the Third Division for the 5th season French colonial era, as well as the Forconi Cup. They will be competing in Third Division, and the Coupe de la Ligue.Calendrier 1re Division (Équipes Premières) dans: L'Écho d'Alger, Le grand quotidien d'information d'Afrique du Nord, 30e année, N° 11341, page 2, daté du 25 août 1941. On April 2, 1942, the board of directors announced the death of their late president, Arezki Meddad and the funeral take place at 12 p.m. meeting 22 boulvard de la Victoire.
Review
The season unfolded under the shadow of a worsening global conflict. World War II was still raging and had grown more intense, especially following the occupation of most of France. Military conscription remained in full force, compounding the challenges faced by football clubs particularly smaller ones with limited resources and capabilities. The management of competitions by the football leagues became increasingly disorganized, leading to widespread doubts, both in official and informal settings, about whether and how the season could be held.
USM Alger began its preparations for the season early, covering both administrative and technical aspects. The club’s management worked on renewing player licenses, registering new recruits, and releasing some of the older players who were no longer part of the team’s plans. The squad resumed its physical and technical training at the Bainem stadium, also making use of civil education halls as part of its preseason program. The core lineup for the season did not undergo significant changes compared to the previous year, and it included several well known players such as: Franck Bailek (GK), Ismaïl Mahmoudi, Mustapha Choudar, Mohamed Bouaroub, Ali Slimani, Mohamed Hamdi, Ramon Bergès, Abdelkader Zouani, Mokrane Hadj Rabia, and Mokrane Karassane.
The season was further overshadowed by a tragic event: on April 2, 1942, Arezki Meddad, the club’s president, died after contracting typhus, a disease that was spreading widely in the country at the time. His death was a great loss for the club, as he had been USMA’s first honorary president, the first treasurer of the inaugural board, and a key member of the executive council. His funeral was held the following day, attended by many members of the community who came to pay their final respects.
Competitions Overview CompetitionRecord Third Division Coupe de la Ligue Total
Third Division
League table Group C PosTeamPldWDLFAGDPtsNotes1 14000000382 1400000036 3 14000000354 USM Maison Carrée 14000000245 14000000246 14000000237 USM Alger 143292023−3228 1400000020
Matches
Coupe de la Ligue
References
Works cited
External links L'Echo d'Alger : journal républicain du matin