Fujairah: Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra is hoping to bottle the spirit of the Fennec Foxes and bring it with him to newly-promoted Arabian Gulf League side Fujairah this season.
The unfancied north Africans reached the Round of 16 for the first time in their history at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil, only to lose 2-1 in extra-time to eventual champions Germany.
Fujairah will need to pull off similar miracles if they are to avoid relegation this season, but with the man they call ‘Magic’ on board, the newcomers can rest assured.
“They are counting on my experience,” centre-back Bougherra of the East Coast club, who are currently 12th in the 14-team league with one win from the first seven games of the season, told Gulf News.
“We are not yet at full capacity,” he added. “But I’m confident we can have a good season. We just need to have spirit. If you don’t have this you are nothing, but if you have this you can make a difference. With spirit you can do many things.”
The 32-year-old former Glasgow Rangers defender needn’t dig deep for examples of how far spirit can take you, with the 4-2 win over South Korea and 1-1 draw with Russia that got Algeria out of their World Cup group still fresh in his memory.
“Nobody trusted us, especially after we lost 2-1 to Belgium in our opening group game. But that win over South Korea was a big moment, because we knew we needed a victory to stay in the tournament.
“The draw over Russia to confirm qualification from the group was another great memory. It was the best tournament of my life and, as my last World Cup, to finish like this and make history for Algeria was amazing.”
Of their narrow defeat to Germany, who went on to beat Argentina 1-0 in the final, Bougherra remains pragmatic.
“You can’t say Germany were lucky, because they went on to win the tournament. We were in good shape on the day and we were confident because we had nothing to lose, we had chances but we just couldn’t score,” he said.
“We are proud because we gave them a hard moment and all the people were happy with our performance, so it was as if we had won.”
Looking back now, France-born Bougherra, who also played for England’s Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic, said he never doubted his side’s ability.
“I always knew we could do it because I had played in the last World Cup in 2010 [where Algeria held England to a shock goalless draw in the group] and I knew anything was possible if we just played with our heart.
“Technically I knew we had a team with natural talent, we just needed good spirit and we were able to find this. We knew we represented not just Algeria, but the whole Arab world, but that didn’t put pressure on us, it inspired us and gave us the spirit to work harder.”
After the World Cup, Algeria are now 15th in the world rankings and, as the highest-ranked African side, they go into next year’s African Cup of Nations (ACN) with confidence.
“On paper we are favourites,” Bougherra said. “But, for me, we go in with the same value as any team, because in Africa anyone can beat anyone, there are always many surprises.
“We have quality and I’m confident, but we need to be ready with the same spirit and forget what we did before.”
As the ACN will be his last tournament before international retirement, Bougherra is looking to finish on a high.
“I’ve been in the national team over ten years and have played in two World Cups and one African Nations, when we reached the semi-finals in 2010. The next tournament after this is the next African Nations in two years’ time, so that doesn’t give me big motivation to continue.
“Also I need to give space to the younger players. I’ve done my job over ten years and enjoyed every minute of it, but now it’s time to turn the page.
“It will be unbelievable if I can finish by winning the African Cup, but it’s not going to be easy. Either way, I will be proud of my career with Algeria and this African Nations won’t tell my whole story, but it would be perfect to do something good there.”
Bougherra played down fears when asked if moving to Fujairah — deemed a smaller club in a lesser league — might jeopardise his place in the Algeria squad.
“I’m working with a fitness coach and know what I need to do to stay sharp. I know I’m fit, but if I don’t play it’s no problem for me, I’m proud of what I’ve done.
“I didn’t want to go back to Europe, I wanted to stay in the Gulf because here they respect you a lot more, they know who you are, and of course, off the back of this World Cup, they give you a lot more credit.
“My life here is good, my family have followed me everywhere, so now I want to give them the chance to enjoy life and go to school in a Muslim country. I really want to stay in the Gulf.
“Over the last five years I’ve won eight titles, [five with Scotland’s Rangers and three with Qatar’s Al Lekhwiya]. But, when I came to Fujairah, it was because I wanted a different challenge, the project is to become one of the biggest UAE clubs in three years.
“I wanted to be part of that, and I have always given everything for the chance to play in different countries. I wanted to try this challenge and I’m happy at the moment.”
