Press Release
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Soccer: Achraf Achkra, Serge Lafrance and Daniel Peace to join the Aigles Bleus
Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus coach Younes Bouida is pleased that two New Brunswick players, Achraf Achkra from Moncton, and Serge Lafrance from Tracadie, and one player from Ontario, Daniel Peace, have signed their U SPORTS letter of intent to play with his team for the upcoming Atlantic University Sport men's soccer season.
Ashraf Ashkra, 18, is 5 feet 10 inches,150 lbs. Originally from Agadir, Morocco, he has lived in Moncton for many years. He is a member of the New Brunswick High-Performance Academy.
“I want to join the Aigles Bleus because they are a promising team with a lot of talent and ambition,” said the midfielder. “I would like to bring my little touch to the team. I've been playing here for four years, and my speed, vision and technique are my strengths. I want to improve my physical game, master aerial balls, play better shoulder to shoulder and everything related to physical fitness.”
He is enrolled in the Sports Management, Recreation and Tourism Program. He knows most of the current players, having played with or against them.
Serge Lafrance, 18, is 5 feet 10 inches, 143 pounds. Born in Laval Quebec, he is also a member of Soccer NB's High-Performance Program and has played with Tracadie’s W.A.-Losier Bisons high school.
“I'm proud to be part of the wonderful Aigles Bleus team, it's been my dream for a long time,” Lafrance said. “My strengths are my explosion and my speed. I'm going to study at the Moncton campus, and I've played against a lot of these players before. I like the chemistry of the team. I want to break into soccer as much as possible and learn the chemistry of the team. I know that the AUS caliber is quite high and requires more effort than other summer leagues. »
Lafrance has been playing in this sport for 6 years and he wants to improve the tactical aspect of his game on the field. He is enrolled in general business administration.
Daniel Peace, 19, is 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 lbs. Living in Thunder Bay, Ontario, he plays with the Providence Pilots of the CCAA League MCAC Division (Manitoba). “I want to challenge myself and my soccer skills during my mechanical engineering studies,” explained the defenseman. “My goal since high school has been to play at the U SPORTS level. I can't wait to discover the campus and the city of Moncton. It is a great place to practice my French.”
Peace wants to improve his soccer and leadership skills. “I look forward to contributing to the community and the soccer program in Moncton. I will work as hard as possible in my studies and for the team. I've been playing for eight years, and my strengths are my distribution and ball control. I want to improve my physical game and speed.” In high school he practiced long-distance running, badminton, and tennis.
Coach Younes Bouida is happy with his findings. “Ashraf is a young man with exceptional technique. We will work together to increase his volume of play so that he uses his technique in the team's game strategy. He is ambitious and will show a lot of discipline and rigour in the work. About Daniel Peace, he is a young leader from Thunder Bay who plays as a lateral defenseman. He is used to playing a high caliber with a lot of physical play which will help him to integrate very well into the AUS. He is a player with good mental qualities and a work ethic. Serge Lafrance is a member of the New Brunswick Academy and provincial teams. He is used to playing in Atlantic and winning. He is a player who gives his 110% to each game and who is very persistent. He will be highly appreciated by the team given his human qualities and his availability for the team.”
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