No replies to this topic

[Philippe Barrau]

Whitehaven NewsHaven
SABRI SET FOR DEBUT
By Martin Morgan

Last updated 15:43, Wednesday, 03 June 2009


NEW French recruit Amar Sabri will debut for Whitehaven in Saturday’s reserve-grade clash with Leigh at the Recreation Ground after arriving at the club on Tuesday.


new signing: Amar Sabri
The scrum-half, who rates defence as his best quality, is fresh from a successful season with French Elite outfit Carcassonne, helping the club to a Lord Derby Cup final win over Limoux in April, and a play-off semi-final.

“This is a big Championship club and I came here to make progress. I want to develop,” said Sabri, who trialed with Leeds Rhinos over Christmas and started at No 7 in their Bo-xing Day clash with Wakefield.

“Leeds lost that game but I was happy to play in it. My performance was good in defence and I gave the pass for my centre, for the last try.”

Director Tim Knowles reckons the 21-year-old prospect has every chance of making the grade at the Recre.

He said: “Amar’s a tremendous talent. He talks about defence, which I’m sure fans will be delighted to hear from a young, strong half-back.

“We have high hopes for him. All the supporters have been looking for a good half-back to add to the talent in the team, and hopefully Amar’s going to be that. I see no reason why he can’t be. There’s a lot of talent in France, and we are trying to spread our network in rugby league.

“When in Toulouse this season, we spoke to officials from French RL clubs and that has led to our new signings.

“Carcassonne lost in the play-offs to Limoux, which is about 10 miles away. It’s a real heartland area, and these guys are a product of that.

“It’s a bit like West Cumbria in that sense. They have a lot of young, bright guys, and we are happy to have them over here.

“I’d like to build a relationship, as would the club, with these French teams. We can’t afford to compete for top level Australians.

“But we know from our experience what young up-and-coming lads can do.

“We’ve seen some at the Recreation Ground this season. You don’t need top names to get top performances. As it’s planned, Amar will play for the reserves on Saturday against Leigh. Games against them are always interesting.”

Fellow Frenchman Rachid Ahlalou debuted at full-back for Haven in their reserve-grade win at Doncaster last weekend.

Meanwhile, work on a new £8 million sports stadium for Whitehaven could be underway within 10 months after Knowles reported “considerable success” in attracting funding for the ambitious project.

The new community facility, which would house Haven and neighbours Whitehaven Amateurs FC, is the planned centrepiece of a project to revitalise the Pow Beck Valley.

Bars, offices and hospitality suites that double as conference facilities are envisaged for the new stadium complex.

“We are focusing very, very hard on being able to start the project before the end of the financial year,” said Knowles. “We want an agreement and something happening before April 1 next year. We are having considerable success putting to-gether the necessary finance.”

Contrary to rumour, the new stadium will not be council-run but is likely to be a partnership between Haven, Amateurs, Copeland Council and West Cumbria Vision, the area’s major new regeneration group.

Haven are still awaiting a date for their legal action to secure the right to remain at the Recre after the parent body of landlords Whitehaven Miners refused to agree a long-term lease.

A long lease is required for investors to commit large-scale funds to the new stadium plan.

Even if Haven’s legal action fails, a Compulsory Purchase Order has been set in motion by Copeland Council, which would free up land for the development. But the club would prefer to win their court action than go down that route.

Haven will play in a pink kit for next month’s televised game against Barrow, to raise funds and awareness of the West Cumberland Hospital’s Henderson Suite. Around 200 of the pink replica tops were sold by Unique Sports last week within three days of going on sale.

“Everyone has jumped on board and likes the idea,” said Billy Rudd, of Unique Sports. “We’ve sent them as far afield as Batley and Crewe, as well as Barrow.” They are still on sale, priced at £40 for adults and £30 for kids.

Director Ralph Calvin passed on his regards to club president Richard Woodall, who is ill.

“All the players and officials send their best wishes to him,” Calvin said.

Last week’s Pride of Five £100 winners were: S Pattinson, Gillfoot Avenue, Egremont, with ticket number 3,424; B Napier, Napier’s Butchers, Egremont, 251; S Coulter, Hilton Terrace, Whitehaven, 2.189; T Dockray, High Road, Kells, 1,148; B Heselwood, Gameriggs Road, Whitehaven, 1,542.

The previous week’s winners were: E Shilton, Martindale Close, Whitehaven, 542; R Davidson, Trumpet Road, Cleator, 673; J Wells, Chapel Close, Whitehaven, 1,464; C Solaire, Borrowdale Road, Whitehaven, 590; W Fisher, West Strand, Whitehaven, 1,487.

200 Club winners: £500 - W Burney; £100 - D McCann; £50 each - D Burns, K Carton, C Atkinson, The Stump x 2; D Glover, J Freestone, E Shilton.

Second Edition: £500 - A Messenger; £100 - D King; £50 each - HD Cooper, G McDonald, W Watson, J Robinson, A Thompson, W McCarron, D Glover, R Napier.http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/haven/sabri_set_for_debut_1_563121?referrerPath=haven/haven_news