- Playing in QNB Stars League is a different ballgame altogether compared to Second Division

- Our goal is to continue our job properly, so Al Markhiya earn a respected position in the final standings

- Ours is a strong side with talented players, a mix of experience and youth

- We work hard and stay focused under coach Abdullah Mubarak in order to provide our best

- We play every match with determination and we’ve nothing to lose, we aren’t afraid of any team

Algerian attacking midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun is one of the stars of promoted team Al Markhiya in the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League.

Hamroun, who had plied his trade in Al Sadd, Al Kharaitiyat and Qatar SC, had a very productive time with Al Sadd with whom he won many titles.

He joined Al Markhiya at the start of 2021-2022 season and played a major role in helping The Oryx earn promotion to this season’s QNB Stars League by virtue of being the Second Division champions.

Al Markhiya began their league campaign by beating reigning champions Al Sadd in the opening match and Hamroun incidentally scored their first goal. They are now ninth in the standings with five points after as many rounds.

Hamroun spoke to Qatar Stars League website in an Exclusive Interview.

Excerpts:

Welcome Hamroun. To start with, how do you find your Al Markhiya stint, which began from the start of 2021-2022 season?

When I joined Al Markhiya, it was a new challenge for me – to help the team get back to the QNB Stars League. Thank God, we succeeded in it. Now, it’s a new chapter for us, we’re in a different league. Playing in the First Division is a different ballgame altogether. We’ve to do our job properly and together we want to take the team to a respected position in the league.

Al Markhiya put up good performance in the first five rounds of QNB Stars League. Do you think the team can maintain the momentum?

Ours is a strong side with talented players, a mix of experience and youth. Most people in Qatar are surprised about the quality of our team. We’ve been humble and working hard, true to our objective to be the surprise package of this season. We’re staying focused under the tutelage of Qatari coach Abdullah Mubarak.

 

 

You had so good a start to the 2022-2023 QNB Stars League with your victory over title holders Al Sadd…

That was just the start we had wished for and that boosted our confidence in no small measure. We’ll continue to work hard. Coach Abdullah Mubarak and the technical staff under him are trying to extract the best out of each one of the players.

Where do you foresee Al Markhiya at the end of the league championship, in terms of the team’s targets?

We play every match with determination. We’ve nothing to lose, we aren’t afraid of any team. We’re keen on finishing as high as possible. We’ve the quality and potential to easily end up in the top half of league. We’re working in our corner with such a goal in sight.

How do you find representing a big team like Al Sadd, where you had much success, and a low-profile side such as Al Markhiya?

I’m a professional, I give my 100 per cent to whichever team I play for. Al Sadd are undoubtedly one of the top sides in Asia. I had a good time with them, winning titles, scoring goals and giving assists.

However, my mission with Al Markhiya is mainly to help them perform to its full potential. Naturally, it’s ‘Team First’ policy for me. I’m happy about our performance in the first few rounds of QNB Stars League. We hope to achieve more positive results.