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Coelho’s Back To Business

January 12th, 2009 | By: Rami | 8 Comments »

After enjoying a mini Christmas-New Year’s vacation in his home country, Humberto Coelho is back in Tunis and has been taking in the LPI matchups during the past few weeks. With our first qualifier versus Kenya a mere two months away and a number of influential players either missing through injury or still needing to return to full match fitness, the manager has been combing through the talent we have at our disposal both home and abroad in order to ensure that nothing is left up to chance.

Added to his “to do” list are meetings with domestic league coaches throughout the country. He will be joined by his assitant Habib Mejri on his visits, which begin as early as today. It’s good to see follow up from the NT staff on their earlier promise to keep open contacts with their colleagues in Tunisia and maintain professional relationships with the men that know more about our prized domestic assets than probably anyone else.

Here is the schedule for the meetings:

January 12th: Olympique Beja, Ain Draham Centre, Jendouba Sport
January 13th: CA Bizertin
January 14th: ES Hammam Sousse and then viewing of the ESHS versus CSHL match
January 15th: US Monastir and Club Sportif Sfaxien
January 16th: AS Kasserine and EGSG at Borj Cedria training center

Looks like a packed week! Definitely wish I was doing that instead of being back at work though

In Other News

- After going through a period of doubt in which fans claimed he paid more attention to his hair than his play, Zouhaier Dhaouadi is finally making good on his promise to quit the moaning about a transfer overseas and begin focusing on what he is paid to do: Just playing football. He had a hand in two of CA’s injury time goals during the past weeks (cross to Tchalla equalizer versus Etoile, winning goal versus Beja) and also took best player honors in the first leg of the North African Champions Cup final versus FAR of Morocco. He is going a long ways towards silencing his critics as well as pleasing his coach Abdelhak Ben Chikha who has shown his fury towards him more than once. Next question: Has Coelho been taking notice as well? What do you think, is Dhaouadi national team material?

- Amine Chermiti scored his first goal for Hertha Berlin this weekend. Sure it wasn’t an official match and was versus a second division Polish team but a goal is a goal no matter where you score it. Expect him to start picking up more playing time when the Bundesliga winter break ends.

- Arbi Mejri confirms that Spartak Moscow is interested in the young national team 3rd string goalkeeper. He’s still under contract with Esperance and I doubt anything materializes (he’s a great backup and I actually prefer him to Kasraoui) but it’s good to see him making a name for himself amongst scouts!

- Rumors: Kamel Zaiem to CA? Oussemma Darragi to PSG? Any more you’ve heard?

Tags: Arbi Mejri, Group H, Habib Mejri, Humberto Coleho, Kamel Zaiem

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Comments

By Rachid | January 12th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

Rami, there is no question Dhaouadi is a very good player, but he seems to lack consistency. I feel one cannot fully count on him making miracles for CA, but with some growing up, I think he can have a great future! I think they need to get him into the NT, as it will expedite his maturity. A good test for him is the final against FAR on Jan 25 in Rabat. If he manages to shine and reproduce CSS’s triumph against Raja in Morocco, then I’ll definitely have much more respect for him. Good luck to them!

Posted from United States

By Achraf | January 12th, 2009 at 4:34 pm

I am very happy for Chermiti scoring Hertha Berlin’s first goal of 2009, hopefully it will build his confidence and get him more playing time. Good to see him running well after the injury. Hopefully the same will happen to Chikhaoui. Coelho is a true professional. He gets very involved with the country and meeting with the coach’s and getting familiar and friendly with everyone. I hope to see him succeed and take us to the world cup and out the first round. Inchallah ya rabbi. Oussemma Darragi to PSG? That would be a good fit for him and would like to see him there and step up his game as well as Dhouadi. Rami, any idea when we will see Mikari start playing for Sochaux. Also do you know if the Swiss league has ended, because if it did, it means we wont even see chikhaoui play.

Posted from United States

By Rachid | January 12th, 2009 at 9:40 pm

Rami, forgot to thank you for the picture and the great view of the
“Perl of the Mediterranean”. Now, we can associate a face with the words and views!

By Houssem | January 13th, 2009 at 5:41 am

Hey guys, just wanted to know that the Etoile blog is back in business too ! As for our NT, the only thing I’m looking forward to right now is the Netherlands friendly next month. At least one team will be certain to play entertaining football !

Posted from Germany

By Rami | January 13th, 2009 at 11:07 am

You’re welcome Rachid, had the picture taken with you all in mind so I’m glad it served its purpose. Agree with you on Dhaouadi too.

Achraf, not sure about Mikari but I’ll look into it. I didn’t hear about any injury so maybe they’re still getting him adjusted. Good question though. As for the Swiss league, it should pick up again near the end of this month. I forget the exact date.

Houssem, nice to see you back to bloggin. I definitely missed it. Also looking forward to Tunis vs. Holland. With Coelho in charge I know our players will show up fully motivated. Only question is, who will be fit and in form. Hopefully we’re pleasantly surprised…

Posted from United States

By Achraf | January 13th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

I am hearing that Lens of france division 2 club is interested in Bilel Ifa of CA. Lens already has Jemaa and Alaeddine Yahia and are expected to be playing in division 1 next season because they are in first place in the second division. This would be a great fit for him.

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | January 13th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

Nice to hear Chermiti scored the first goal for Hertha in 2009, hope that gives him confidence after his long injury.

And Coelho is doing is his best so thats nice to hear, hope it shows against Holland

And rami i saw your picture dude you handsome sob :p, hope you enjoyed your stay.
I would also like to see a tunisian club match live for once, must be a great sensation:D

Posted from Netherlands

By Rami | January 14th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

LOL Abdullah Yea you have to make it out to a game sometime soon. Preferably a derby of sorts because the atmosphere is always electric. Any game between any of the big four. Although I’ve been to other games that have been fun too and seen some good football. Still never seen Rades filled up but I gotta make it to Esperance vs CA to see that! One day inshallah.

Achraf, Lens will definitely have competition there. Marseille has a long standing interest and they won’t be wanting to let him walk away like Chikhaoui did. Plus he’s not going to come cheap. He has potential to be a world class right back and one of the best (if not THE best) our country has ever produced. I saw him completely change the game against Etoile. The guy’s defensive positioning has improved a lot and he’s always been good at getting up field and supporting the attack.

Posted from United States

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