The Golden Squad of the Eighties Clean of Doping Allegations, Assad

Former ace of Algeria national football team of the eighties, Saleh Assad, said some officials and people are tending to split off the former players from the legendary 1980s generation to serve personal ends, saying in this interview that he backs up his former mates at the squad who have children born with disabilities for taking “banned medicines,” but refuted allegations that the players were using doping.

Echorouk: Recently, the affair of players of the golden age of the eighties who have children born with disabilities has broken out in Algeria, as some said they had been given performance-enhancing drugs. What can you say, mostly as you belong to that talented generation?

Assad: Well, I’d say that they have the right to know the truth on this issue, because they have children born with disabilities. They defended the colors of Algeria, and officials now have to bring answers to their question marks. Yet, I regret this terrifying silence of the concerned officials, who gave the opportunity to ill-intentioned people to tarnish the image of the squad of 1982. I’d also say that I was astonished when a foreign TV channel used my picture while evoking such an issue! The squad is clean of doping allegations, and I swear that we have never taken such performance-enhancing drugs. And I see some people have started doubting our glorious performance and tend to tarnish our image. The generation of the talented stars that led the country to two World Cup appearances – Spain 1982 and Mexico 1986 – were sculpted by former players of the National Liberation Front squad; with a 100 percent Algerian medical staff, and all we were taking were vitamins; and if I knew that we were given doping drugs, I’d have been the first to protest and reject them!

Madjer said exactly the same…

Yes, and Madjer said only the truth… I remember in the Olympics of Moscow, I was chosen randomly with a German player to perform doping test, the result of which was negative…

So, why has the issue been linked to the squad of the eighties?

I believe that it’s a campaign targeting the integrity of that talented generation, and splitting off the former players, which has effectively started, as no one of them is present at football bodies, national squads or clubs, although big nations rely on their former stars. In Algeria we are marginalized; just look at what happened to Madjer, he was “banged” for he was alone! 

Let’s talk about the current coach of the Desert Foxes, the Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic…

Well, I don’t know him personally, but I remember him as a player, when I used to play for Mulhouse FC in France, he was the best player of Ligue One with Nantes FC. I think he belongs to the Eastern Europe School of Football better known for its rigor; and I just wish he could succeed in his mission. 

Some see in Sochaux ace Boudebouz the future captain of the Greens..

Yes, I entirely agree. Boudebouz will become the new “Boss” of the Greens, but he just need some support and advice to push him give out his best. 

Have you reached goals you set in your career?

I think I reached all my sport relating goals; but I still unhappy for being chosen the second best athlete in 1982, although I deserved to be the best. I was the champion of the local League with RC Kouba, the best Algerian player in Spain World Cup 1982, and best player in African Nations’ Cup 1982, while the Brazil legend Pele told reporters that I was the best winger in the world, saying I came from another planet! Officials at that time broke my heart, and I’ll never forget that!