Karim Ziani: A win against Rwanda will startle Egypt

Talking in an interview on the “ Algeria Foot” web site due to appear soon, the Algerian international Karim Ziani declared that he wished to take part to the upcoming fixture against Rwanda on March 28 but the African Union Federation didn’t lift he ban.

•  
• Marseille midfielder also gave his view about the players’ choice to play for other national squads including the French one instead of their native country.
•  
• Q: You missed the derby against Paris Saint Germain, how did you live the situation?
•  
• A: I was on my nerves but quite happy to the final outcome because my team took over erasing PSG’s sweeping victory in the away match.
•  
• Q: But you’ve lost the opportunity to play your native town’s club?
•  
• A: Unfortunately I received a third yellow card which prevented me to take part in this match, but frankly speaking I wished I could  participate to do my part of the job and help my team mates clinch victory.
•  
• Q: This victory propels you to the second place in the ranking, one point behind the leader Olympic Lyon your next adversary at home, how do you see your chances to become this year’s champion?
•  
• A: Things are not done yet, we have to beat Lyon and move to the top of rank
•  
• Q: Let shift to the national squad, how does Ziani feel knowing that he will see the next match on TV?
•  
• A:  It’s unfortunate; I was hoping that the African Union Federation would cancel the yellow cards after the second leg but it’s not the case; now I will follow the news through TV and prepare myself for the next round against Egypt.
•  
• Q: Do think the Algerian squad is able to beat Rwanda in Kigali?
•  
• A: If we look at the Algerian line-up, I think that Saadane’s players can easily take over Rwanda and pave the way for the qualification to the world cup; moreover, starting with a victory will frighten our rivals.
•  
• Q: But things do not limit to Rwanda, there are two strong components ahead,: Egypt and Zambia,
•  
• A: We have to focus on Rwanda first than think about Egypt and Zambia later on, because in football we have to proceed bit by bit and never hurry.
•  
• Q: Are you optimistic for the qualification to the 2010 world cup?
•  
•  A: Of course yes, and it’s nonsense to state the opposite, but things will become clearer after playing Rwanda and Egypt.
•  
• Q: There is a question which strikes the headlines concerning foreign players who prefer to play for their adoptive countries rather then for their native ones, what’s your view on this?
•  
• A: Everybody is free in his choices, as I’m concerned; I didn’t hesitate to play for Algeria when I was asked to, but here are players who are very much influenced by their immediate environment and chose to play for France, for instance.
•  
• Q: Have you ever received pressure to play for France?
•  
• A: when I was playing for Troys I was 18, some officials asked me to play for the French squad but told them that I was Algerian and cannot wear the French jersey.
•  
• Q: That’s why you took part in the 2004 African Cup of Nations?
•  
• A: Before moving to Tunisia, I was approached by one of the French clubs that asked me not to join the Algerian squad if I wanted to play for them, I definitely denied the offer and joined the Algerian squad.
•  
• Q: Have you done well?
•  
• A: Of course, you see now I’m playing for Marseille and didn’t miss a thing while I could have missed the African cup if I yielded to the pressures.
•  
• Q: do you think that Benzemma did the right the choice by playing for th French squad?
•  
• A: I respect everyone, because everybody is free to choose his destination
•  
• Q: You talk with passion when it deals with the Algerian squad, what’s re reason behind this feeling?
•  
• A: It goes back to my infancy, my father imparted in me the love of the country, when I was young he took me regularly to Algeria to spend the summer holidays there and I was doing round trip between Algiers and Bedjaia frequently, this strengthened my attachment to my native country.
•  
•