If Renard is a fox, am a fox-and-half – Saadane

THE Algerian national team coach, Rabah Saanane, has stirred a war of words against his Chipolopolo counterpart a week before the two countries clash in a 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup Group C qualifier in Chililabombwe.

• Algeria and Zambia lead the group with four points apiece while African champions Egypt and Rwanda have each managed a point from two Group C matches.
• Speaking to journalists at the Hilton Hotel in Algiers on Thursday before the squad flew out for a week-long training camp in South Africa, Le Buteur reported Saadane saying that if Renard (Fox) was a clever coach as his name suggests in French, then he (Saadane) was the better of the two.
• “If he is a fox, I’m a fox-and-half. No Mr Renard, you are a favourite in Zambia, not Algeria,” said Saadane, who guided Algeria to 3-0 aggregate win over Zambia in 1985 during the Mexico ’86 World Cup qualifiers before they beat Tunisia for a place at the finals.
• On the encounter at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe, Saadane said he is preparing his team to play in Zambia despite concerns raised by FIFA ahead the Group C match.
• Earlier this week, FIFA security officer, Frank Valdermaca of Zimbabwe raised concern over safety at Konkola Stadium and reports in Algeria stated that the game will be moved from Zambia to a neighbouring country.
• The 63-year-old Saadane also hinted that he would make some changes to the squad that beat Egypt 3-1 in Blida. He refused to disclose his approach to the match.
• He reiterated that the Konkola Stadium turf was bad and would determine his game formation for the June 20 encounter.
• “This will be another game, in a different situation and on a bad pitch. I will have to change two or three players for I know that this will be a true fight.
• “I will not disclose my tactic…this will all depend on the state of the pitch. If it is one that is good, we’ll play football, be versatile and look for the result,” he said.
• Saadane cautioned Algerians that despite the Desert Foxes topping the group and appeared favourites, Egypt and Zambia were also favoured in Group C.
• “The people must know that we have played two games and that there are four games remaining; that is 12 points.
• “It is true that we are henceforth favourites, but there are other favourites – Egypt and Zambia – and the battle involves three nations, Rwanda seems to be out.”
• The Algerians left their base on Thursday afternoon and were scheduled to arrive in South Africa yesterday to set up a training camp in Pretoria.
• Saadane returned to coach the Desert Foxes in 2008 for his fifth stint having already coached Algeria on different periods between 1981 and 2004.
• The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) expects a 50-member Algerian delegation on Thursday next week in Ndola.
• The team will proceed to Chingola’s Protea Hotel, train at Konkola Stadium on Friday ahead of World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
• The top team from the group will qualify for the World Cup in South Africa with the best three competing at the 2010 Africa Cup in Angola.