One week before the start of the March training camp, the Algerian national team is gearing up for a new era under the guidance of Vladimir Petkovic. The camp marks the first gathering under the Swiss-Bosnian coach’s leadership.
Having returned to Algeria on Sunday, the new coach of the Fennecs made a significant decision by informing the president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), Walid Sadi, of his intention to observe fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, which is sacred for Muslim countries like Algeria, as reported by the media outlet Compétition. This move, uncommon for a non-Muslim coach, aims to “immerse fully in the conditions and atmosphere of this sacred month,” according to the same source. Meanwhile, on the purely sporting side, the former Switzerland coach has already begun preparing the program for the upcoming camp.
This is not Petkovic’s first step towards the Algerian people. Last week, at the end of his introductory conference, the coach had already expressed his desire to immerse himself in the culture and traditions of his players and fans. He wished Algerians a happy Ramadan and greeted with a smile a representative of the fans who came to hug him and present him with a copy of the Quran. Clearly, the Sarajevo native takes his role very seriously, which is undoubtedly a good sign for the Fennecs, who aspire to once again captivate the Algerian people.
D-10 before his first match!
The former Girondins de Bordeaux coach also appears in a video released on Monday by the FAF, alongside 16 Fennecs, who wished the Algerian people a joyful Ramadan. In terms of communication, Petkovic’s tenure is off to a promising start. However, it remains to be seen how this will translate onto the field against Bolivia (22/03) and South Africa (26/03). These two friendly matches will not only mark the 60-year-old coach’s first steps at the helm of the Greens, but also the Fennecs’ first appearance since the failure of the 2023 AFCON.
