Rafik Helliche to Echourok: We lived a Hitchcock- like scenario in a minute

Rafik Helliche

The Algerian defender Rafik Helliche has declared that the injury he contracted on the face was not that dangerous and will not prevent him from taking part in today’s match versus Egypt, adding that the cowardly act perpetrated by the Egyptian fans has augmented their resilience to return from Cairo with the qualification to the World Cup.

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• Q: Can you tell us something about your injury?
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• A: It’s not so deep and will not prevent me from playing tomorrow; I was touched at my left eyebrow by a group of Egyptian fans who attacked our bus on its way to the hotel. I even took part to light training session at the hotel yesterday.
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• Q: how was it by the way?
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• A: The training session was already scheduled despite the savage attack few minutes to our departure from the airport; the atmosphere was excellent as usual which proves that we were not affected by the events and we have to keep our concentration because pressure will be tense few hours before the match.
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• Q: Did you expect such scenario?
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• A: As an athlete I can understand the fans’ attitude and sometimes their zealous manners towards their clubs and respective national squads especially in the Maghreb region. As we are concerned, the Algerian people is waiting for us to fulfil their dream so does 80 millions of Egyptians and they are free to support their team, but not attacking us with stones and injure five members of the Algerian delegation. I didn’t expect such a scenario, but our response will be on the pitch.
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• Q: Some Egyptian channels have accused the Algerian delegation of fabricating a scenario and have declared that you have broken the bus’ windows from inside, what do you say?
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• A: we are not that crazy to do so and those who accuse us wrongly to lure the public opinion are wrong. Fortunately, several satellite TV channels have broadcast a video showing the Egyptian fans attacking our bus. Pictures of my team mates Chaouchi, Lemouchia and I were aired and proved that these allegations were a pure invention.
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• Q: Aren’t you afraid of the repetition of the same scenario today before your training session on Cairo stadium?
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• A: I don’t think so because the entire world is now aware of what happened; Besides, FIFA has received an exhaustive report on the events. Anyway, the Algerian blood is too precious to be squandered for nothing; our response will be on the pitch but in a civilized way.
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• Q: Does it mean that what happened to you before your entry to the hotel has boosted you and gave you a supplementary strength to beat the “Pharaohs” and qualify to the world Cup?
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• A: The aim behind the attack 48 hours before the match was to affect our moral, but they are wrong because we do not apprehend any team. These events have increased our resilience, let me tell you that if we were ready to play at 100% now will do even more than that in order to snatch our qualification to the world Cup and prove to the world that we deserve to got to South Africa because we are simply the best.
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