Lemouchia to Echorouk: “Saâdane advised me to join again the first league championship in France”

Algeria's international and midfielder of ES Sétif, Khaled Lemouchia, dwells in this exclusive interview with the newspaper Echorouk on his future projects with on focus his projected transfer to a first – division club in France after securing the green light, for this purpose, from ES Sétif top manager Abdelhamid Serrar. 

• Q : You have come back with the UNAF trophy from Tunis, this major achievement has brought about your reconciliation with the ES Sétif fans?…
• Lemouchia : Absolutely, we are very happy with this achievement especially after our recent disappointment in the CAF competition.
• We have succeeded in reaching our first objective for this season. The second one will be, hopefully, the Algeria championship title.
• Q: Does this mean that you will remain within the ES Sétif squad until the end of the championship?..
• Lemouchia : No, I am intent now on embarking anew on a professional career  most probably in France. ES Sétif top Manager Abdelhamid Serrar has been wise enough by giving me the go-ahead to join a first-division club in France as early as possible.
• Q : On this point, have you received offers from foreign outfits ? …
• Lemouchia : As a matter of fact, I have serious contacts at the moment with the French clubs of Monaco and Montpellier as well as with 2 Saudi outfits namely, Al Ahly and Ittihad of Djeddah.
• They have made enticing offers. For the time being, I am thinking it over and I will decide on my next destination in a fortnight or so.
• Q : Don’t you think that your abrupt departure from ES Sétif is untimely as the Africa cup of nations’ competition is so near?…
• Lemouchia : No, not at all … Things are clear between me and my interlocutors.
• The Africa cup of nations is very important for me and the national squad is above everything.
• I explained this clearly to my interlocutors during the negotiations with the above-mentioned clubs.
• Q : The Africa cup of nations in Angola is approaching by leaps and bounds, what about the chances of success of the Greens? …
• Lemouchia : I should point out that our participation in the forthcoming contest will not be symbolic. On the contrary, we are firmly determined to honour the national colours by going as far as possible in this continental competition.
• We are rather optimistic as we have a solid and united group which is keen to snatch victories in all sportsmanship.
• Q : After the Africa cup of nations, there will be the world cup in South Africa and you will have as opponents in the first round, England, the USA and Slovenia… The mission seems rather intricate, don’t you think so?
• Lemouchia: Well, I should say that the national squads who are present at the World cup finals are top level and are worthy of respect. Even if England is tipped as the favourite of this group, Algeria could emerge as a serious contender with some good chances to upset the roster and, why not, secure a berth in the second round of the competition.
• You know everything is possible in football… One should not count one’s chickens before they are hatched!