Hafid Derradji to “Echourok” : Nothing to regret in the Algerian television”

One after his departure from the Algerian television to join the Qatari satellite channel Al Jazeera, the outstanding sports commentator Hafid Derradji gave an extensive interview to “Echourok” explaining the circumstances that pushed him to quit.

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•  “I awe my present status to the Algerian television” 
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• Hafid Derradji has declared that he still remembers the quality time over years as a journalist and top manager at the Algerian television, adding that he doesn’t regret any single thing “ I don’t regret any decision taken as a top manager at the Algerian TV and will not regret what I did as a journalist”.
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• Talking at “Echourok Forum”, the man admitted that the Algerian television was behind his fame “  I would never reached stardom if not my passage at the Algerian television and would never hold a position at Al Jazeera Sports; the Algerian television is a genuine school and wish it the best for the future”.
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• “These are the reasons that pushed me to choose Al Jazeera rather than ART”
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• As to the real drives that made him choose between the two rival channels Al Jazeera and ART, Derradji declares” I had two proposals, one from ART and the other from Al Jazeera, but the first offer required my stay here in Algeria as a special correspondent and occasionally move abroad to comment some matches, while Al Jazeera offerdd me the opportunity to establish in Qatar and work among a whole staff. Frankly speaking I chose to move to Al Jazeera because I wanted to quit Algeria at that moment”.
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• He went on saying “ ART’s financial offer was more advantageous, but for professional reasons resorted to sign for Al Jazeera, moreover my relationship with the new Director General Nacer Lekhleyfi  is excellent and that weight on the balance”.
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• “Al Jazeera’s managers surprised me by the salary they offered”
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• Answering to the salary that has been proposed by the channel’s managers, Hafid Derradji declared “ to be honest when I moved to Qatar I didn’t even ask about my salary because I trusted the channel’s managers, but I was struck by the  amount they offered, that gives you an idea about their professionalism”
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• “I feel comfortable at Al Jazeera”
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• Derradji praises the new working conditions in which he evolves” In this channel I went back to my sources; that is the job I do the best, journalism. After 20 years working at the Algerian TV, I found room to care about my children, now I have the opportunity to accompany them to school for the first time in life”.
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• “I was not forced to change my commentary style”
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• As to the secret for keeping his Algerian dialect, Hafid Derradji declares” when I signed my contract with Al Jazeera Sports I wasn’t asked to change the intonation of my commentary, that‘s why I kept my mother tongue, which I’m proud of, many Arab viewers outside the Maghreb adopted it”.
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