The prospect of seeing the Fennecs in South Africa is lifting the spirits of Algerians as they face the economic and security challenges of 2010.
By Walid Ramzi for Magharebia in Algiers — 07/01/10
Despite 2009's assorted pains and problems, Algerians bade farewell to the year with an exuberance ignited by the Fennecs' successes. In the months leading up to New Year's Day, Algerians of all walks of life filled the streets with celebrations, showing that while crises may divide them, football unites them.
What do Algerians expect from the New Year? What are their dreams? How did they fare last year? Magharebia received varied replies as the holiday approached, but most answers included optimism spurred by the Fennecs' hard-won victories over old foes like the Pharaohs.
New Year's wishes started early this year, with a storm of text messages. And while they didn't forget kind words for friends and family, most well-wishers fired off congratulations, prayers and high hopes for the national side.
"I hope the national football team will win the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and to play well in the World Cup to honor Algerian football," said Ahmed, a 23-year-old student who was among the fans who flew to Khartoum for the November 18th showdown with Egypt.
Asked about his personal wishes for the New Year, Ahmed returned the focus to the Fennecs. "My wishes are for the national team; that's enough," he said. "This is the least we can do to repay the players, who shared so many happy and unforgettable days with us. I may wait until 2011 to have some personal wishes of my own."
Ahmed's fellow student Radhouan, 21, has a similar outlook. "I hope the national football team will win the 2010 African Cup of Nations," he said. "I also want meet Karim Ziani, who's the symbol and star of the team." Unlike Ahmed, however, Radhouan still has time for academia, adding: "I hope I succeed in my studies this year so that I can choose the science major that suits me."
Omar, interviewed by Magharebia while hawking make-up at a popular Algiers market, told Magharebia that 2009 "was a good omen for Algeria, especially Algerian football. How could it be otherwise?"
"We managed to return to the World Cup and the international arena after 24 years of football defeats and sterility," he said. "I hope the victories will continue into the New Year and that good sportsmanship will take root in the people, who should show how attached they are to our nation."
"I also hope that there'll be more love among Algerians," the 27-year-old added for good measure.
Many Algerians believe their team has a good shot at winning its second African title; the first such triumph was in 1990 on their home pitch. The optimism stems in part from the host of talented young players that coach Rabah Saadane can draw from the French, English and Italian leagues.
Even football fever, however, is not enough to erase some of the tough issues facing Algerians at the dawn of the New Year. Many young people hope that the coming months offer answers to major problems that lead a few to take extreme risks — risks that can even mean drowning on the "death boats" bound for the Mediterranean's far shore.
"I hope [the government] will pay attention to the young people who are looking for someone to rescue them from loss and deviation, given that they're besieged by the deadly ghost of drugs and with the obsession of clandestine immigration," said Nuwara.
Nuwara said that becoming a harraga had claimed the lives of scores of young people, and pleaded for jobs to be made available for the country's youth "to secure the needs of life, which has become difficult in these times".
But not all young people, who make up to 70% of the population, are desperate enough to climb aboard a leaky boat. Kamal, 22, told Magharebia about his "awful" situation and his parents' divorce, which he said had forced him to support his five-member family and mother by selling women's clothes in markets.
"The last few years have been very tough on me; I had to quit school and enter the workforce at a very early age," he said. "But I haven't lost hope of finding a job, and I haven't gone abroad to get out of poverty once and for all, even with poverty and need strangling me. I want to change my life through work, and that could happen in the New Year."
Kamal was interrupted by his friend Abdel-Noor, who said: "Many of the young people who work at markets in the capital are less than 25 years old. Hardships forced them to quit school and enter the working world, in spite of the difficulties and problems we face each time a police patrol comes by."
"Those patrols sometimes prevent us from showcasing our goods, and this is unacceptable, since the market is our only source of income," he said, adding that all Algerians need is "a stable job to live in peace and realize our dreams".
Mounir, 35, echoed his fellow Algerians' worries about money. "I've been engaged to the girl of my dreams for years now, and she's waiting impatiently for the day we live together under one roof. But my social and professional situations make that impossible. I hope to find a stable job in 2009 and marry the girl of my dreams."
For those who are employed by the government, meanwhile, the New Year holds out hope. Most public servants, who number around two million, are anxious for the government to start implementing pay hikes. Under sector-by-sector agreements, doctors, professors, educators and others are expected to get raises that would shore up their purchasing power in the face of rising food prices.
One such employee, 47-year-old Rachid, hopes the government will "honor its pledge to employees and pass the necessary laws that allow for a review of salary structure".
"With social conditions deteriorating, [the middle class] is starting to disappear from Algerian society, although it constitutes the safety valve," he said. "There may be better stability in our social conditions with the pay increases to be introduced by the beginning of next year."
Sadik, a 50-year-old professor, said the government would have to act on agreements he believes were reached "so as to avoid popular resentment over citizens' eroding purchasing power".
"We hope that next year will be the year that embodies the aspirations of thousands of Algerians who just look forward to improving their living conditions," he added.
Women interviewed by Magharebia said their New Year's wishes ranged from success for family members to a definitive resolution of Algeria's security situation.
"2009 has gone by and left behind a lot of memories, both happy and sad," said one 50-year-old mother of three. "Personally, I hope that my son Waleed will get his education certificate, that my daughter Warda will have a baby, and that my son Youssef will find a job, especially since he's looking for stability in his life."
"But above all else, my biggest wish is that our great mother Algeria will be just fine," she added.
In the midst of this mix of family concerns, job searches and football fever, many Algerians found the time to welcome 2010 with a long-standing New Year's tradition: the party.
Shaouki, a 30-year-old shopping for decorations, told Magharebia that he was buying a bunch of brilliantly-colored balloons for a celebration at his house with his friends. "I'm very optimistic about this New Year, which I want to start in an atmosphere of laughter and joy in anticipation of a happy future on all levels," he said.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/reportage/2010/01/08/reportage-01.
By Walid Ramzi for Magharebia in Algiers — 07/01/10
Despite 2009's assorted pains and problems, Algerians bade farewell to the year with an exuberance ignited by the Fennecs' successes. In the months leading up to New Year's Day, Algerians of all walks of life filled the streets with celebrations, showing that while crises may divide them, football unites them.
What do Algerians expect from the New Year? What are their dreams? How did they fare last year? Magharebia received varied replies as the holiday approached, but most answers included optimism spurred by the Fennecs' hard-won victories over old foes like the Pharaohs.
New Year's wishes started early this year, with a storm of text messages. And while they didn't forget kind words for friends and family, most well-wishers fired off congratulations, prayers and high hopes for the national side.
"I hope the national football team will win the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and to play well in the World Cup to honor Algerian football," said Ahmed, a 23-year-old student who was among the fans who flew to Khartoum for the November 18th showdown with Egypt.
Asked about his personal wishes for the New Year, Ahmed returned the focus to the Fennecs. "My wishes are for the national team; that's enough," he said. "This is the least we can do to repay the players, who shared so many happy and unforgettable days with us. I may wait until 2011 to have some personal wishes of my own."
Ahmed's fellow student Radhouan, 21, has a similar outlook. "I hope the national football team will win the 2010 African Cup of Nations," he said. "I also want meet Karim Ziani, who's the symbol and star of the team." Unlike Ahmed, however, Radhouan still has time for academia, adding: "I hope I succeed in my studies this year so that I can choose the science major that suits me."
Omar, interviewed by Magharebia while hawking make-up at a popular Algiers market, told Magharebia that 2009 "was a good omen for Algeria, especially Algerian football. How could it be otherwise?"
"We managed to return to the World Cup and the international arena after 24 years of football defeats and sterility," he said. "I hope the victories will continue into the New Year and that good sportsmanship will take root in the people, who should show how attached they are to our nation."
"I also hope that there'll be more love among Algerians," the 27-year-old added for good measure.
Many Algerians believe their team has a good shot at winning its second African title; the first such triumph was in 1990 on their home pitch. The optimism stems in part from the host of talented young players that coach Rabah Saadane can draw from the French, English and Italian leagues.
Even football fever, however, is not enough to erase some of the tough issues facing Algerians at the dawn of the New Year. Many young people hope that the coming months offer answers to major problems that lead a few to take extreme risks — risks that can even mean drowning on the "death boats" bound for the Mediterranean's far shore.
"I hope [the government] will pay attention to the young people who are looking for someone to rescue them from loss and deviation, given that they're besieged by the deadly ghost of drugs and with the obsession of clandestine immigration," said Nuwara.
Nuwara said that becoming a harraga had claimed the lives of scores of young people, and pleaded for jobs to be made available for the country's youth "to secure the needs of life, which has become difficult in these times".
But not all young people, who make up to 70% of the population, are desperate enough to climb aboard a leaky boat. Kamal, 22, told Magharebia about his "awful" situation and his parents' divorce, which he said had forced him to support his five-member family and mother by selling women's clothes in markets.
"The last few years have been very tough on me; I had to quit school and enter the workforce at a very early age," he said. "But I haven't lost hope of finding a job, and I haven't gone abroad to get out of poverty once and for all, even with poverty and need strangling me. I want to change my life through work, and that could happen in the New Year."
Kamal was interrupted by his friend Abdel-Noor, who said: "Many of the young people who work at markets in the capital are less than 25 years old. Hardships forced them to quit school and enter the working world, in spite of the difficulties and problems we face each time a police patrol comes by."
"Those patrols sometimes prevent us from showcasing our goods, and this is unacceptable, since the market is our only source of income," he said, adding that all Algerians need is "a stable job to live in peace and realize our dreams".
Mounir, 35, echoed his fellow Algerians' worries about money. "I've been engaged to the girl of my dreams for years now, and she's waiting impatiently for the day we live together under one roof. But my social and professional situations make that impossible. I hope to find a stable job in 2009 and marry the girl of my dreams."
For those who are employed by the government, meanwhile, the New Year holds out hope. Most public servants, who number around two million, are anxious for the government to start implementing pay hikes. Under sector-by-sector agreements, doctors, professors, educators and others are expected to get raises that would shore up their purchasing power in the face of rising food prices.
One such employee, 47-year-old Rachid, hopes the government will "honor its pledge to employees and pass the necessary laws that allow for a review of salary structure".
"With social conditions deteriorating, [the middle class] is starting to disappear from Algerian society, although it constitutes the safety valve," he said. "There may be better stability in our social conditions with the pay increases to be introduced by the beginning of next year."
Sadik, a 50-year-old professor, said the government would have to act on agreements he believes were reached "so as to avoid popular resentment over citizens' eroding purchasing power".
"We hope that next year will be the year that embodies the aspirations of thousands of Algerians who just look forward to improving their living conditions," he added.
Women interviewed by Magharebia said their New Year's wishes ranged from success for family members to a definitive resolution of Algeria's security situation.
"2009 has gone by and left behind a lot of memories, both happy and sad," said one 50-year-old mother of three. "Personally, I hope that my son Waleed will get his education certificate, that my daughter Warda will have a baby, and that my son Youssef will find a job, especially since he's looking for stability in his life."
"But above all else, my biggest wish is that our great mother Algeria will be just fine," she added.
In the midst of this mix of family concerns, job searches and football fever, many Algerians found the time to welcome 2010 with a long-standing New Year's tradition: the party.
Shaouki, a 30-year-old shopping for decorations, told Magharebia that he was buying a bunch of brilliantly-colored balloons for a celebration at his house with his friends. "I'm very optimistic about this New Year, which I want to start in an atmosphere of laughter and joy in anticipation of a happy future on all levels," he said.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/reportage/2010/01/08/reportage-01.
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