CR Belouizdad coach Sead Ramovic has named the differences between the Algerian league and the Betway Premiership listing player quality and pressure.
Ramovic has coached in South Africa with TS Galaxy where he helped the team finish in the top half but bemoaned the loss of talent to bigger clubs during his tenure. The German tactician is now in Algeria where CRB are currently second in the league with 24 points in 15 matches, 12 points from Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger at the top.
CRB have also qualified for the quarterfinals of the Algerian Cup and are looking to get out of Group C in the CAF Confederation Cup where they sit at the summit with six points in three outings.
Ramovic said the biggest difference is the pressure and the patience or lack thereof of winning games and silverware.
“I think one of the aspects, of course, also the quality of the players and also that every team in Algeria is very tough to play against,” said Ramovic.
“They invest a lot and of course, it’s not the same when you are a coach for a club like TS [Galaxy], the pressure is not so much here. Even if you end up number five, six, four it’s okay, or maybe you end up number 10. So, the key it was there more to produce players that the club can sell. I think we did a great job there.
“But to win something with this is not easy, because if you lose every year seven, eight players, and then you have to bring again from the academy, because the financial aspect is not like other clubs, like [Mamelodi] Sundowns, they can buy one for 3 million easily and we cannot even buy for salary, so we need to bring from the Academy. But it’s also a great experience. Great, great job, and it was great time there.
“And now in Belouizdad, it’s not like this. We have to win. If not, we will get a lot of critics and it’s like the coach is not good, the players are not good, we have to change. And when you see now, example, in Algeria, the average time for a coach is three, four months and then they change. And now I’m since one year, so I think I’m now the second-longest coach in Belouizdad.
“I need 12 more games and then I’m the longest one. But this is great, but my goal is to win something there. We are still in the CAF, we are still in the quarter-final cup, and we are number two in the log table in the league.
“So, our goal is we need to win, if not, I will be replaced and some players also. So, a type that you have to understand, more pressure, but you can win. In these teams where I was here [SA], the coach less pressure, but you cannot win a title.”
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