Football Africa - 'We Are Going to Win Algeria' - Capt Mustapha Jarju. It won't merely be a normal match and the rivalry will tense up given the two side engagement that ended in controversy with threats of terrorism from host Algeria during the 2008 Caf Nations qualifiers. With all this packed in a bundle, and Algeria albeit an improved side ranked 30th globally, Captain Mustapha Alassan 'Toubabo' Jarju is confident Gambia will send Algeria packing in a bundle.

Gambia have been pitted with the North African country twice in the previous years -meeting four times during games - as result reads two victories and two defeats to either side.

Mustapha Jarju is capped thrice against Algeria and has been deployed as an attacking midfielder behind hotshot Ousman Jallow and Esbjerg's Njogu Demba in these encounters.

Foroyaa Sports caught up with the Scorpion Captain -who currently, is in the country on offseason, for his bit on the 29th edition Caf Nations cup draw with the Desert Foxes, South Africa 2013.

The 24-year-old admits the cracker won't be all easy -preferring to tag it as 'difficult'- saying things may have work out easier had they are to start the crusade away to Algeria in the first leg.

"Playing against Algeria is very difficult especially when we start on home grounds and then go to Algiers. But we are just going to try and win and get the three points and then we see what is going to happen away to Algiers", the former Raec Mons and West Africa first MLS Designated Player said.

Controversy has had its toll in the meeting of the countries. Gambia were slammed with a fine of US$ 10,000 [ten thousand US dollar] for crowd trouble that marred the ending of the game and three key players in Assan Jatta, Lamin Conateh [Babaye] and Abdoulie Corr suspended, for their involvement in the fracas.

Algeria went unpunished by Caf and Fifa after two players confronted Caykur striker Ousman Jallow threatening to 'kill' him and blow up the team hotel with a bomb when they return visit for the second leg. Algeria Football Association quickly rebuffed the story as 'baseless', but midway to the game the referee had to part Jallow needing the intervention of match commissioner after two desert foxes players attacked the Gambia forward.

Flashing back on the incidents, the former Wallidan, Steve Biko and SK Lierse goal poacher said the Scorpion -who will be led by a local coach this time - won't revenge and instead has been garnering the three points as an ultimate objective.

"Is always another thing if we are to play our final game in Algeria because we always fight you know. Algerian fans are crazy about football, they have a different mentality. We are not going to revenge we are just going to win. We just treat them good so that when we go back they will also do the same", Toubabo Jarju said in his formal afro-like tresses.

Gambia has never -for once- qualified to the Caf continental tournament since playing their first game in 1962 [then called British Gambia] against Senegal in which they won 3-2. It has ever remained the same storyline despite a new crop of players emerging; no qualification.

Jarju, who, initially refused to be drawn into the subject said, "All these past qualifier games we've had disappointments and all the players know how important it is to be in the African cup of Nations and to have a good ranking. We missed our chances in the African of nations but now everybody want to play in the tournament and I hope things are going to get better you know for next year ,the qualifiers. If I am saying we are going to qualify and the other players are saying it too whilst things are not going good it is going to be difficult. We have to do it as a group: everybody, the Gambian fans and the authorities in Gambia football to come out and support so that the Gambia can achieve what we want to achieve in football".

At club level, Jarju Mustapha has had his own problems with his MLS team in which the Canadian-based team blamed the Gambia Football Association for Jarju's slow club progress. Due to such problems, Jarju had had to miss Gambia's final game against Burkina Faso.

"It is been difficult since I arrived. Sometimes football is so difficult that you don't expect it and have to take it because that is life" he said.

Mustapha Jarju scored 25 goals for Mons in a season, a total of thirty-six goals in 161 career games in Belgium.

For this impressive statistic, the Caps signed him but the Gambian struggled to catch up and soon, reports started making rounds that he will be offloaded. He was left unprotected in the MLS draft.

"Maybe [they will sell] yes and maybe no. what I am concern about now is to go back to my club and do what I have to do and then that's it. Since I arrived I have been getting problem coming for the national team and that is the problem I have with my club. They decided to make a decision whether I come for my national team or for my club. But it is solved now. I still have a contract until 2013" he told Foroyaa Sports in an exclusive interview last weekend. Jarju is to return January 22nd for preseason.

Sulayman Bah

FOROYAA Newspaper/03/01/2012