Zidane attends an Algerian championship football match

2006-12-19

The former captain of the French football team, Zinedine Zidane, ended his five-day visit to Algeria on Friday. On Thursday he attended a match in the football championship at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers, which saw Union Sportive de la Médina d’Alger (USMA) facing Jeunesse Sportive de la Médina de Bejaia (JSMB).

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers –19/12/06

[Getty Images] Algerian fans greet French football star Zinedine Zidane (left) as he opens a football match between USM Alger and JSM Bejaia in Algiers City 14 December 2006.

French football player Zinedine Zidane topped off his visit to his parent's country of origin by attending a match between two local teams, Union Sportive de la Médina d’Alger (USMA) and Jeunesse Sportive de la Médina de Bejaia (JSMB). Zidane's appearance on the stands boosted attendance, with many braving the rain to greet and cheer for their favourite football champ.

The 1998 World Cup champion arrived at the 5 July Stadium an hour late, to find players from the two sides and some 10,000 people massed on the stands waiting for him. He was accompanied by the Minister for Youth and Sport, Yahia Guidoum, and the president of the Algerian football federation, Hamid Haddadj, as well as the managers of the two clubs.

Zidane blew the starting whistle under the admiring gaze of spectators and the clicking of the photographers’ cameras. The few thousand spectators who braved the cold were clearly delighted to acclaim the star.

The teams, who had to work their way around a water-soaked pitch, ended up separated by 2 goals to 1, with USMA clinching victory. The two clubs are now in equal second position in the general ranking, after Entente de Setif (ESS), prancing about at the top of the championship.

Mouloud Fathi, USMA supporter is doubly pleased at the end of the match. "I was able to see Zizou right up close, and USMA won," he said.

Smail Chakir, bitten by the football bug, came specially to see Zidane. "I had to mark the event, the visit by this grand master of football to Algiers, which for me is historic. What a shame the cold and rain put people off coming en masse to show him our admiration," he said.

"It’s an honour for USMA to have such a prestigious guest. We didn’t hesitate to move our match to the 5 July stadium to honour the top-class Algerian guest," USMA President Said Allik said. His rival, Mohamed Boussofiane, expressed his joy at having "shaken hands with this world class player."

The Algiers club defender, Mohamed Zidane, says that he told the world champion that he is proud to bear the same name. To which the blues’ captain replied: "I’m happy too."

As for the quality of play during the match, it seems to have caught the world star’s eye, as he said in a short press conference which took place at half time.

"Algeria has good players. We’ve seen that on the pitch. They just need the adequate means to express themselves," Zidane said at a half time press conference.

Asked to talk about what he felt he could contribute to helping Algerian football flourish, he said there was no magic wand. "I can help by giving advice, from my experience and know-how which are there to be drawn on. I hope Algerian football will regain its place in international competition. There are plenty of good intentions to focus on objectives like these," he said.