Hafid Derradji joins Echourok as a consultant

The Algerian sportscaster at Al Jazeera Sports channel Hafidh Derradji has recently joined Echourouk Alyoumi newspaper as a consultant and sports advisor. In a lengthy interview from Doha, Qatar, he dwelled on his experience as a chronicler in “Super” magazine as well as his weekly sports program “ Bi Koul Rouh Riadhya” ( With Fair Play), hinting to the great popularity of the Echourok newspaper that crossed over the Arab world borders.

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• Echourok: You write an article per week for the widely read Emirates weekly magazine “Super”, but you have shifted your interest on the aftermath of the events that took place in Egypt, what’s the reason behind?
• Derradji: Through my articles on “Super” magazine I intended to reach out to a wider Arab audience in order to convey the Algerian point of view concerning the aftermaths of the Algeria- Egypt matches  and shed light on numerous shadowy zones to enlighten the Arab reader after misinformation campaign launched by the Egyptian media. Though Echourok and other Algerian newspapers have replied to these allegations, the message didn’t reach out to the Arab world in general and the Egyptian reader in particular, it was counterattack using the language of football without any intent to harm the Egyptian people that understood the damage caused by the Egyptian media campaign against Algeria.

• Echourok: Doesn’t your starkness cause you some troubles?

• Derradji: Not at all, I’m trying to be as objective as possible with the use of strong arguments to enlighten the Egyptian general public and the Arab alike; Time is appropriate to strike back and take the veil off the allegations and we have proven very wise when dealing with these events.

• Echourok: Your program “ With Fair Play” broadcasted on Al Jazeera has become the great attraction among the Arab audience did you expect such a success?
• Derradji: Actually, yes, and I’m expecting more in the future through the topics I intend to deal with as soon as the Arab audience gets acquainted to my style and my neutral way of dealing with the events, including the Algerian audience. Next week’s topic will deal with the FIFA’s sanctions; it will be either the epilogue or the prologue of another Algerian- Egyptian conflict.
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• Echourok Are there other programs in the offing?

• Derradji: Everything is focused on the program “ With Fair Play” for the time being, and the channel is concentrating on the upcoming world cup and the special coverage of the Algerian national squad as the unique Arab representative in this competition. The channel’s general manager will disclose the details soon.

• Echourok: The newspaper publisher, Ali Fodhil has got in touch with you in order to join Echourok’s staff as a chronicler how did things happen?

• Derradji: Very naturally, I was moved by Ali Fodhil and his assistants’ humbleness and feel privileged and honored by their trust in me. My name is associated to one of the most outstanding Arab newspapers.