ÞÇÏÉ17
2009-06-25, 12:05
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MADJID BOUGHERRA is enjoying a holiday at last but already has one eye on RangerS
pre-season schedule - and a clash with one of his Algeria team-mates
The Ibrox defender played his part at the weekend as he scored the first goal in his country's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win in Zambia. That result leaves the Algerians in a strong position in their preliminary group and they're three points clear at the top with just three games to go.
The Desert Foxes are looking to reach the finals for the first time since 1986 and Bougherra is hoping to have another busy summer ahead next year.
Before then, he has Gers' defence of the SPL title to prepare for and that's a challenge the club's player of the year is relishing.
As well as three friendly games in Germany, the Light Blues will play PSG and Arsenal in London at the start of August.
Their final warm-up game before the league gets underway will come at Portsmouth on August 8 and that's the fixture Bougherra is most excited about.
It will pit him against his international colleague Nadir Belhadj and both players have already discussed the prospect of clashing at Fratton Park. Bougherra said: "Pre-season is going to be great. Obviously we are playing Paris St Germain and I was born in France so that will be special.
"The Portsmouth game will be the same for me because I will be coming up against my friend Nadir Belhadj.
"While we were away with Algeria last week, we were talking about the game after we found out on the Rangers website that we will be playing each other.
"That is good because after that match, we have a game with our country the following midweek so we can travel to that together and it will be fun.
"I have been teasing Nadir - he is very quick so I told him he needs to be careful against me because I am determined to win."
The majority of Rangers' players will return to Murray Park for the start of pre-season training on July 9.But given his season lasted for another three weeks beyond the Scottish Cup final, Bougherra is expected to be given extended leave by boss Walter Smith.
He added: "That is something I will need to speak to the manager about but hopefully I will be able to get some extra time off.
"For three years now, I have had the same situation where I've been playing all season then I've had matches in the summer too.
"When my team-mates have had six weeks off and I've only had two or three, it can be very difficult.
"I have started more or less every game for Rangers over the last year so it is important that I have a chance to recover from that properly.
Bougherra was pleased to end his campaign on such a high with a rare goal for his country in Chililabombwe. It was only his second strike at that level and just his second counter of the season after he found the net for Rangers at Hibernian last September.
Bougherra said: "I was very happy at the weekend because I don't score often and that was a very important game for us.
"We went into it on the same points as Zambia so to win against them at their stadium was fantastic.
"In Algeria, we have many people who want us to get to the World Cup and they were out in the streets celebrating afterwards. I was so pleased for them.
"Now I have a lot to look forward to with my club and my country over the next few months and that is very exciting."
MADJID BOUGHERRA is enjoying a holiday at last but already has one eye on RangerS
pre-season schedule - and a clash with one of his Algeria team-mates
The Ibrox defender played his part at the weekend as he scored the first goal in his country's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win in Zambia. That result leaves the Algerians in a strong position in their preliminary group and they're three points clear at the top with just three games to go.
The Desert Foxes are looking to reach the finals for the first time since 1986 and Bougherra is hoping to have another busy summer ahead next year.
Before then, he has Gers' defence of the SPL title to prepare for and that's a challenge the club's player of the year is relishing.
As well as three friendly games in Germany, the Light Blues will play PSG and Arsenal in London at the start of August.
Their final warm-up game before the league gets underway will come at Portsmouth on August 8 and that's the fixture Bougherra is most excited about.
It will pit him against his international colleague Nadir Belhadj and both players have already discussed the prospect of clashing at Fratton Park. Bougherra said: "Pre-season is going to be great. Obviously we are playing Paris St Germain and I was born in France so that will be special.
"The Portsmouth game will be the same for me because I will be coming up against my friend Nadir Belhadj.
"While we were away with Algeria last week, we were talking about the game after we found out on the Rangers website that we will be playing each other.
"That is good because after that match, we have a game with our country the following midweek so we can travel to that together and it will be fun.
"I have been teasing Nadir - he is very quick so I told him he needs to be careful against me because I am determined to win."
The majority of Rangers' players will return to Murray Park for the start of pre-season training on July 9.But given his season lasted for another three weeks beyond the Scottish Cup final, Bougherra is expected to be given extended leave by boss Walter Smith.
He added: "That is something I will need to speak to the manager about but hopefully I will be able to get some extra time off.
"For three years now, I have had the same situation where I've been playing all season then I've had matches in the summer too.
"When my team-mates have had six weeks off and I've only had two or three, it can be very difficult.
"I have started more or less every game for Rangers over the last year so it is important that I have a chance to recover from that properly.
Bougherra was pleased to end his campaign on such a high with a rare goal for his country in Chililabombwe. It was only his second strike at that level and just his second counter of the season after he found the net for Rangers at Hibernian last September.
Bougherra said: "I was very happy at the weekend because I don't score often and that was a very important game for us.
"We went into it on the same points as Zambia so to win against them at their stadium was fantastic.
"In Algeria, we have many people who want us to get to the World Cup and they were out in the streets celebrating afterwards. I was so pleased for them.
"Now I have a lot to look forward to with my club and my country over the next few months and that is very exciting."