Nassim Boujellab joined TSV Havelse this summer. He had very specific reasons for doing so, and money and general conditions were not the main factors.

Nassim Boujellab took a step that surprised many observers this summer. He joined third-division promoted team TSV Havelse.

In an interview with colleagues from the WAZ newspaper, he reveals why. He says it was not about money or highly professional conditions. On the contrary: “Much more important to me than a highly professional environment is what the people are like. How do they work? How do they behave? What are they like? After just over a month, I can say that I have never experienced such humanity and honesty in my career as I have at TSV Havelse.”

Boujellab also talks about how he sees TSV Havelse as his last chance to some extent. Because he wants to give it another go. As a former Schalke player, it’s understandable that he’s feeling some derby fever ahead of the upcoming third division match against Rot-Weiss Essen on Saturday, August 9, at 2 p.m.

For TSV Havelse, signing Boujellab was a coup. “Nassim has everything we want for this position: ball control, game intelligence, special individual quality, and the will to take responsibility. He is a team player with experience and personality—exactly what our team needs. We are very happy that he is now part of our journey. His qualities are undisputed, and here in Havelse we will give him the environment to fully develop them,” said sporting director Fabian Riedel at the time of the signing.

Boujellab himself said: “I am very happy and grateful to be here. For me, it was the right decision to come to TSV Havelse because I can take the next steps here, both personally and with the club. I am really looking forward to the season and can’t wait for it to start.”