Decastel Steps Down; Ben Yahia New CSS Coach

Last week, the big news out of Sfax was that CSS had appointed Khaled Ben Yahia as their new coach. The news came as a surprise to some because the Michel Decastel situation hadn’t really been resolved. Decastel was facing a six month touchline ban stemming from the team’s decision to abandon a game versus EST after one of their striker (Apoko) suffered an open leg break after colliding with Hamdi Kasraoui. The team had just lost one of their best players, Amir Haj Messaoud, to a horrific injury which lead to their overreaction. Apoko has since returned and even scored a goal in the super cup but unfortunately his coach (and the team directors) cannot join him.

I found the sanctions to be heavy handed and somewhat illogical as Decastel had nothing to do with the decision to abandon the game. Salahedine Zahaf, the team president, was the person responsible. However, the rule states that technical staff on the match list gets a six month ban, Decastel included. Facing the choice of coaching from the stands or resigning, Decastel chose the latter. He had been hinting at an eventual departure before the incident but this precipitated the decision.

A season that started with so much promise for the CAF cup holders is quickly disintegrating. Ben Yahia, who has coached CSS before, has his work cut out for him as the team is about 21 point off the pace in the Tunisian league. In his first game in charge, the team from the Southern capital fought hard but lost to a better organized and more motivated Club Africain team. Considering he only had been in charge for two days, a one goal loss is nothing to be ashamed of.

Decastel will stay on in a managerial role and play out the rest of his contract that expires at the end of the season. A circulating rumor is that he will take over the reigns at Etoile du Sahel if Bertrand Marchand takes over the reigns of the National team with which he’s been heavily linked. Whatever the case, best of luck to Club Sportif Sfaxien that finds itself in a difficult position. The “Arab Juventus” as they like to call it deserves a place amongst the big four in the top of the table. For the league, there’s always next year but there’s still all to play for in CAF as they try to defend their crown.