“I will score goals against Luxembourg,” says Algeria’s Benyamina

Karim Benyamina will play for the Algerian national team for the first time in the match against Luxembourg due to be held in November. “I am passionate about scoring goals,” he told Echorouk in an interview.

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  How did you learn about your participation with the team?

  National coach Abdelhak Benchikha called me. We talked and he told me I am with the team to play against Luxembourg. I was very happy.

   

  Before that, had you heard news about that?

  I did not expect that and I did not learn anything about that. Last year, I expected that I would have been in the team.

   

  What does your presence in the Algerian team represent to you?
  

  Everything. It was a dream and it came true. I was waiting for that last year.

   

  Didn’t you wait that this time?
  

  Honestly, it was a surprise to me. I lost hope a little bit but you can not imagine how I was happy.

   

  What do you think the reasons why your presence in the team was delayed?

  Maybe it is destiny. I do not know why but I was about to join the team when Saadane was the coach.

   

  Do you know that your name was erased from the list when it had been published on the Internet?

  I know that. I could not confirm it but I learnt through media that my name was in the list of the players. Yet, it was erased in the last minute. This had an impact on me but I do not care about that anymore.

   

  Do you feel angry or regrets?

  Angry? No. I do not bear any grudge against the former coach. He was interested in bringing me. Maybe I was disappointed because I hoped to be in the team. Yet, I always try to overcome the past and I look forward to future. I am keen on joining the national team.

   

  How do you feel about joining the team for the first time?
  

  It is a nice feeling. I am keen on playing the match against Luxembourg. It is a historic appointment. I am impatiently waiting for it.

   

  Algerian people do not know a lot about Benyamina. How do you describe yourself?

  I am the leading goal scorer. My mission is to score goals. That what I want to do as the national team suffer from this point.

   

  Do you promise to score goals?

   

  I hope that. I am the historic leading goal scorer in Berlin. It is different with the team. I will try to be one’s equal job. I scored three goals in eight matches in this season.

   

  Do you know about the number of the players in thenational team?

  Yes. I know about what is happening in the team. I am not just a player but I am a fan as well.

   

  Who are your friends in the national team?

  I know the players who play in the German championship especially Antar Yahia, Amri Chadli, Karim Matmour and Karim Ziani but I did not talk to them.

   

  What do you think is the most distinguished player in the current national team?

  Nadir Belhadj. He is an extraordinary player. I think that he will not play in the next match. He is a very talented player and I hope to see him soon.

   

  And from the former generation?
  

  Rabeh Madjer.

   

  When will you visit Algeria?

  I may visit Algeria when I join the national team. I did not pay a visit to my family in Algiers, five years ago. I say hello to my friends there.