Football/ Antar Yahia to Echorouk : ” The probity and integrity of the Algerian professional players should not be doubted”.

In an interview with the newspaper “Echorouk”, the defender of the Algerian national squad who plays with the German team of Bochum, Antar Yahia, has said that he is hale and hearty in expectation of the crucial world cup qualifier versus Egypt slated for June 7 in Blida stadium. 

• Antar Yahia asserted that the psychological aspect would weigh heavily on the balance during the upcoming confrontation against the Egyptians, by recalling what happened in the 2004 Africa cup of nations’ competition  in Tunisia and the historic Algeria-Egypt qualifier won by the Fennecs by a whisker.
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• Echorouk  : You have joined your teammates a bit late for this training camp…
• What are the reasons behind this delay?
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•  Antar Yahia  : Actually, I joined the Fennecs 3 days after the start of the training camp in Southern France because I had to settle an urgent family problem.
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•  Echorouk  : How is the atmosphere now prevailing within the national squad during this training camp ?
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•  Antar Yahia  : I should point out that the atmosphere is great and all the players are highly motivated to achieve excellent results in the competition with the prime objective being to snatch the qualifying ticket for the 2010 World cup contest.
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• Echorouk  : Don’t you think that the belated arrival of certain professional players at the training camp could have a nefarious impact on the whole team in anticipation of the clash versus Egypt ?
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•  Antar Yahia: I should tell you that each of these players had informed beforehand the national coach Rabah Saâdane of their belated arrival. But I can assure you that these professional players arrived late at the training camp against their will because of various commitments.
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•  Echorouk  : What are, according to you, the major assets of the Egypt squad ?
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•  Antar Yahia  : The Egyptian squad is a potent one marked by an unfailing solidarity among their players who know how to keep cool even in the most difficult moments and they keep going until the referee’s final whistle.
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• These things are essential in a football match.
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•  Echorouk  : What about their drawbacks?…
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•  Antar Yahia  : I prefer to keep them to myself  (laughter…).
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•  Echorouk  : How do you see the much – awaited match versus the Egypt line-up which is widely regarded as an indomitable contender ?
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•  Antar Yahia : Well, the upcoming qualifier versus the Egyptians will be surely a grueling one but I can assure you that the Algerian players are determined to pull out all the stops on June 7 to carry the day to please the 35 million Algerians and to boost the Fennecs’ chances to clinch a qualification for the 2010 World cup in South Africa.
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•  Echorouk  : Some people are wary of a possible outbreak of violent incidents during the forthcoming Algeria-Egypt qualifier on account of the long-running and bitter rivalry between the supporters of the 2 countries… What is your message to the Fennecs’ supporters?
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•  Antar Yahia  : I want to urge them to remain calm and patient and to back up the national team to the hilt because, we the players are intent on doing our utmost on the pitch to garner the 3 points of victory on June 7 in Blida.
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• I do hope, all the same, that sportsmanship and fair-play will prevail on the pitch and in the stands.
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