Boutabout to Echorouk: “The Greens of Algeria can secure a berth in 2nd round of World Cup tournament”

In an exclusive interview with “Echorouk”, the former talented striker of the Algerian national football squad, Mansour Boutabout, who wrapped up a fruitful football career in France and in Belgium before deciding now to join the Algerian first-division division championship with the team of USM Blida, dwells on his past experience with the Greens and their future prospects for the upcoming World Cup football competition due to be held in South Africa starting from next June.

• Echorouk: After playing for several years in France and in Belgium, why have you decided now to embark on a new footballing experience in Algeria by joining the national first-division club of USM Blida?
• Boutabout: Well, for me things evolved swiftly. After playing for so many years in the French and Belgian championships, I eventually decided to start a new experience in Algeria. With the precious help and guidance of the Chairman of the Algerian football Federation, Mohamed Raouraoua, this endeavour was crowned with success and I am now within the USM Blida line-up.
• Echorouk: But, we have not seen you yet playing championship matches with the Blida team, why?*
• Boutabout: Actually, I had to get fit again physically before being included by the team coach in the starting eleven. In order to retrieve a good physical shape, I took part beforehand in a few friendly matches with my new squad of Blida in order to adapt to the new football environment here in Algeria.
• I am truly confident of my abilities despite some ludicrous criticism coming from some ill-advised quarters… As a striker, I am determined to bring a positive contribution to my new team by notably scoring several goals, God willing !
• Echorouk: What is your appreciation of the past and present Algerian national football squads ? What is the salient difference between them ?
• Boutabout: Well, I should point out that the present Algerian national football team enjoys a great stability, a positive factor which is of paramount importance on the road to success. In addition to that, the current squad have all the human and material means at their disposal contrary to the former national line-up which lacked all this.
• Echorouk: How did you gauge the Greens’ performance in the whole qualifying round leading to the 2010 World Cup tournament in South Africa?
• Boutabout: I followed the Greens’ remarkable performance during all the World Cup qualifiers with great interest. I was very pleased at their high level of play notably versus Egypt and also during the recent Africa Cup of nations in Angola with on focus their breath-taking match against the indomitable squad of Cote d’Ivoire and their fully deserved victory over the Ivorians by 3 goals to 2 after extra-time.
• The Algerian players’ performance during this hot fixture versus the Ivorians was top-notch to say the least !
• Echorouk: Now, according to you, what are the chances of the Algeria squad in the forthcoming World Cup contest in South Africa?
• Boutabout: Under the clear guidance of a seasoned coach like Rabah Saadane and all the means put at their disposal, the Algerian national football squad have, honestly, the means to advance to the second round of the World Cup competion provided they win the first scheduled match versus Slovenia.
• Even though the team of England is expected to top the group, the 3 other squads namely Algeria, the USA and Slovenia have approximately equal chances to wrench the qualifying ticket for the second round of the tournament. We should rather wax optimistic as to the chances of success of our national football squad in this prestigious world competition.