Football: Rafik Saifi Points To A Lack Of Cohesion For Algeria line-up

The Lorient FC striker Algerian Rafik Saifi believes that he and his partners in attack need more matches together in order to turn the Algeria football line-up into a force to be reckoned with…  

• Algerian international Rafik Saifi has indicated that he needs more match time with Siena’s striker Abdelkader Ghezzal before the two of them can be effective together in coach Rabah Saadane’s starting line-up.

• The Lorient FC player pointed to the fact that he is used to playing as a lone forward with the ‘Fennecs’ as a reason for the lack of scoring and also said that a spate of injuries was to blame for his mediocre showing in Algeria’s goalless draw against Rwanda in Kigali on March 28th.

• Futhermore, Saifi said that he didn’t appreciate critics who said he played better for his club side than he did for the Greens.

• “It’s a stupid argument. At Lorient I’m employed by the club, while in the national team I play for a whole nation. It must be known that when I play for my country I give my all.

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• The difference, maybe, is that of cohesion, since at Lorient we play together every week and train together every day which naturally creates chemistry.
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•  This isn’t the case with the national team,” he explained in an interview with an Algerian sports magazine.

  Rafik Saifi also expressed his extreme frustration at picking up his third yellow card in Rwanda, which will result in his suspension for the crucial tie against continental champions Egypt in Blida on June 7.

• Both Saifi and  national coach Saadane have said that the upcoming qualifying match versus Egypt is a must win if the Algeria squad are to retain hope of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.