Salah El-Din Basir at night Kora: I rejected Al-Ahly and Zamalek

When we talk about Moroccan football legends, we will definitely put Salah al-Din Basir’s name at the top of the list for what he accomplished with the “Atlas Lions” or in his busy professional career, specifically with Deportivo La Coruña. .

Basir was able to literally achieve it all, taking part in the 1998 World Cup and scoring two goals at the World Cup, specifically against the Scottish team.

Unlike the international day with the “Atlas Lions”, the Moroccan star was the most outstanding stop when he won the Spanish league title with La Coruña when he was accompanied by his compatriots Noureddine Nebte and Mustafa Hajji.

“Yallakora” got in touch with the retired Moroccan legend and former Raja player to discuss his successful career as well as his participation in the World Cup in France and his thoughts on the long-awaited champion in the African Champions League competition.

Here are the details of the dialog as follows:

How was your professional career?

My career was divided into two parts, the first was a hobby and the second was a professional one. My beginning grew up in a popular neighborhood and this period was distinctive for me as I played several inter-neighborhood matches before joining the Raja Casablanca team, where I joined the youth team before being promoted to the first team in the season (1990-1991), when I was 19 years old.

I played with the Raja youth team for six months, then I was promoted to the first team thanks to my talent and learned a lot during my time with the Raja youth team, be it in tactical discipline or commitment in the dressing room, and I played in a period wonderful with Raja where he had several stars like Fathi Jamal Hamrawi Abdel Rahim And much more.

As for the second part, which is professional after starring with Raja Casablanca and the Moroccan team in the nineties, my professional start was directly participating in the Arab Championship, which was held in Cairo, and the Al-Ahly team had big stars, and we got to the final match and we faced Al-Ahly in front of about 80 or 90 thousand spectators and we lost. With a result (3-1), this tournament witnessed my brilliance after I scored nine goals and was the top scorer in the tournament, for which I received many offers, either in Egypt or Arabs, as well as in European performances. .

What about the Egyptian performances you talked about?

I received two offers from Al-Ahly and Zamalek, but the offer from Al Hilal Saudi was the best in financial terms, and Al Hilal’s team participated in the AFC Champions League competition this season, and we were able to win the championship, as well as the Recopa de Asia, then I joined the Spanish League playing in the ranks of Deportivo La Coruña, Spain, and then I went to the French and Greek League, and I finished my career after 29 years when I suffered an injury in the knee.

After your great experience in Europe, what is the best tournament for you?

The best tournament for me in the world is now the English Premier League, but during the period I played in Europe the Spanish League was the best and I had the honor of winning the Spanish League with Deportivo, as well as the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup. too.

And your career in the Moroccan national team?

I consider my time for the Moroccan team 100% successful, since I participated in all the matches of my career, and I was able to score in almost all the matches, and I was considered the best goal during my international career at the 1998 World Cup, where my dream was to get to the World Cup and participate, and thank God I managed to score.

How was the Moroccan team behind the dressing room during the match between Brazil and Scotland at the 98 World Cup?

For us we were able to beat the Scottish team by three unanswered goals, and we expected 99% to qualify for the next round, and in the 86th minute, during the match between the Brazilian and Scottish team, the Scottish team was defeated, and the The second goal was considered questionable, and for us the dressing room of the Moroccan team was considered a (funeral) Afterwards, the joy turned to sadness, and this was a bitter reality, and after that we were able to pass this test.

And the clashes between Egypt and Morocco at the national level?

Arab matches, especially North Africa, are considered strong and rare because these peoples love the ball and have a passion for the ball, and facing the Egyptian team is considered to have a special character due to the dominance of the Egyptian team in titles Continental teams, all teams were facing the Egyptian team hard and wanted to win them to show that they are stronger than Egypt, so matches between Egypt and Morocco used to get nervous, especially when we saw the Egyptian press affecting the players. They used to describe Morocco’s matches as a war and not a match, and that is what we consider a double-edged sword, either frustrating the Moroccan team or motivating us, especially since we are a team that possesses the level and professionalism. Many victories, and of course we do not want to forget the generation of the nineties, the Egyptian team was very strong, especially since they are great pillars in the Al-Ahly, Zamalek and Arab Contractors clubs.

How do you see Hakim Ziyech move from Ajax to Chelsea?

Ziyech’s move to Chelsea is seen as a successful transfer for the player. I have a fear of this deal, which is the English Premier League, which is dependent on fitness and a wise man is not dependent on physical strength.

But Hakim has an advantage, which is skillful power, that is (real), since he is like Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Salah, and this is what will help him succeed, and Chelsea is a great and usual team to compete and win championships, and I hope he adapts quickly.

– In your opinion, was it better for Mohamed Salah to leave Liverpool after winning the Premier League?

My personal opinion was that Mohamed Salah would leave Liverpool and join another team, specifically to go to Spain, be it Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atlético de Madrid, or go to the German League for Bayern Munich.

Salah achieved everything with Liverpool, be it at the national, European or continental level, so he had the best play for a new experience, everyone expects Mohamed Salah to score in every game and nobody expects his absence from the scoreboard.

I wish him the best of luck in the end and enjoy his level with Liverpool, and Salah can continue to shine with Liverpool, especially since this group has been with some for several years, so there is no problem for him to continue to shine, as long as he cooperates with the whole system.

How do you see the level of the Moroccan team now?

In the current situation there is a renewal in the team and also at the administrative level, and the team has a great need to renew the blood of the team, but there is no time for replacement and renewal due to the current circumstances due to the new epidemic of the Corona virus, and coach Waheed Khalil Hudzic is considered one of the great coaches, especially since he has a solid career in the French League.

– Moving to Raja Casablanca. Will the team be able to compete on the continent after the result of going against Zamalek?

The Raja team is capable of achieving a hat-trick during this season, especially after the strong return of the team after the Corona pandemic, the Raja team achieved positive results in the league championship and on the rise.

But what Al-Raja is currently suffering is the large number of infections and the lack of alternatives at the basic level, and this is what we saw in the first leg against Zamalek, and we hope that the team will recover all their players in Wednesday’s meeting, especially since there are cases of Coronavirus so far.

– Do you see what is the most prominent threat to Zamalek before Raja’s second leg?

The highlight in the Raja Casablanca team is the collective and not depending on a single player, especially after the positive results of the recent period and here is the talk about the Moroccan League, and this is what we see in terms of the level of the players and returns thanks to the technical director who directs Jamal Al Salami. In particular, benefit from youth.

How did you see Hamid Haddad’s level with Raja this season?

Hamid Ahadad shined especially after the return of the League and scored decisive goals for Raja, considered one of the distinguished attackers, whether with or without the ball.

– Your expectations for the match between Zamalek and Al-Raja, especially after the result of the first leg?

Raja is a large and global team that has many African and international experiences. On the other hand, Zamalek does not have the definition, names and titles that the team possesses. The most important thing is to prepare the players mentally and psychologically, especially after the events that Raja team suffered after the first leg, and in the end I wish Raja success and win because there is no substitute to win after losing on the fly. .

In the end, who will win the Champions League this season?

Raja has a strong march in the African and Arab championships, for Al-Ahly and Zamalek, the same is the most important thing is the psychological and mental factor of the players in addition to the physical factor, especially after the Corona virus pandemic, and I hope Raja is well thought out in front of his fans, especially that he will face an old team the size of Zamalek.