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The Michael Eneramo Debate: Super Eagle or Carthage Eagle?

October 28th, 2008 | By: Rami | 29 Comments »

There have been rumors circulating on the net regarding the naturalization of Esperance’s Nigerian striker, Michael Eneramo. I had mentioned this briefly a few months back but this weekend the story took a turn, making it worthy of a full fledged post on the subject. Dimanche sport had a segment on Michael’s career and life in Tunis so far. Eneramo is depicted in a charming light and puts his English, French, and Tunisian Arabic on display.

Amid the shots of him scoring goals, cooking in his apartment, introducing his brothers, and playing basketball with elementary schoolchildren, the inescapable question arises in the interview: “What’s your opinion regarding naturalization?” Michael doesn’t hesitate in answering that he’s been hearing about it for quite some time and that he’s still waiting for it to become a reality. Like any ambitious player he doesn’t hide his desire to play in the African Nations Cup and World Cup.

So what’s so special about this anyways? A lot of people saw this coming. Here’s the key: Dimanche sport is produced by TV7, the state owned Tunisian TV station. Showing this segment and introducing the possibility of naturalization is essentially the governments way of floating the idea amongst Tunisians in order to gauge the popular response to the notion of Michael in a red and white jersey.

Granting Eneramo citizenship would not only free him up to play for the Carthage Eagles, it would also free up a place in Esperance’s lineup for another foreigner. Much like in Europe, there is a cap on foreign players in the Tunisian league in order to ensure the development of domestic players. Considering Esperance’s vast financial resources and current place at the top of the table, having them circumvent the rules is a little problematic. That’s a whole other story altogether though…

Overall, naturalization has reaped its benefits for us in football. Much like the rest of the world, our previous successful experiences in this realm have been with Brazilians such Jose Clayton and Francileudo Dos Santos Silva. Both players contributed mightily to our 2004 African Cup title won on home soil and Dos Santos might yet come back to fortify our attack once more in the future if he is fit. While I respect all of their efforts, I never really fully bought into this practice. I’d much rather see us struggle molding young Tunisian players or recruit French, German, and Italian players of Tunisian descent then turn our national team into a united nations of football. It’s hard to be patriotic and proud of your team when it’s comprised of players who have nothing in common with you.

Eneramo has quality, there’s no doubt about it. His physicality, body control, and ball coverage are top notch and we’re missing his type of hold up play in our attack. His four goals in six games this season and sixteen in thirty six games all time for Esperance are proof of his lethality in front of goal and that isn’t counting the ones he creates by his mere presence in the box.

However, besides the little bits and pieces of arabic he knows, there’s nothing Tunisian about him and I oppose his inclusion just like I opposed that of Clayton, Adilton, and Dos Santos. There is perhaps a double standard there too because even though I’m against the Brazilians who have been in our squad, my anger was tempered by the fact that there’s Brazilians in so many national teams throughout the world. The general attitude amongst Tunisians is if Japan, Mexico, Qatar and others have Brazilians in their squad then why can’t we?

The Eneramo scenario is completely different. Especially when we’re in the same qualifying group as his country of birth, Nigeria! If we need one of their own to beat them, then maybe they’re the ones who should go to the World Cup!

Portrait of Michael Eneramo on Dimanche Sport

The segment begins 50 seconds into the video. I have nothing against the guy really and enjoyed watching this, I just don’t think we’re at a point where it’s absolutely necessary to bring him into our NT. When healthy, we have enough talent at that position to hold down the fort. Your take?

TV7 - Dimanche Sport 26/10/08 - (2)
Uploaded by SuperBeurkMan

Tags: Adilton, Carthage Eagles, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, EST, Francileudo dos Santos Silva, Group H, Jose Clayton, Michael Eneramo

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 29 comments.

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By Yassine | October 28th, 2008 at 1:27 pm

We may need Eneramo in our attack but we certainly don’t need a player who plays with “his” national team for fame & money. We all thought that Ben Khalfallah wasn’t Tunisian enough to play for us but we saw his “glaieb” against France and at least he has a Tunisian name. Naturalizing players makes National Teams lose its identity which is sometimes more important than results in International Football.

By Abdullah | October 28th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

That is correct Yassine, but if a player is able to bring something extra to our NT and if he is a citizen in Tunisia i wouldnt mind having him on.

Though i doubt there isnt anyone of the same caliber, surely there must be young talents running around waiting for the day they get called up.

But i agree with you for most of it, im leaning to a 60% no, and 40% yes right now :p

Someone also mentioned benachour, he is welcome to come back too he has some amazing creativity, and experience but i kinda lost track of him.

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | October 28th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

I agree with you Rami and Yassine. I as well do not like the idea of naturalizing players. Fahd is Tunisian enough but Eneramo, come on, he is no where close to being Tunisian. Just because he played a couple of years here in Tunisia and he liked it, it doesn’t mean you are Tunisian. He would be playing against his Birth place team if he comes here. If teams keep naturalizing players, then there will be no point in have international play. Just have a club team if you are having players from different countries. I would rather have Selliti play for us.

As for Bennachour, I have always wanted him and Jaziri to come back to the national team, but I think there time is done. There has been no news of them since they went to play is Saudia or wherever arabian country they went to. Now that we are looking at Allagui, Camus, and Khedira(?), it wont be worth having Jaziri or Bennachour.

But more on Allagui and other European players will be talked about at tomorrows press conference That Coelho will be having. Cant wait.

By omar | October 28th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

funny coming from a dude whose name means sword…besides it was jsut a joke no need to get all anal..shit…last time a make an attempt at humor on this blog…

By Rami | October 28th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

Guys, everyone’s opinion is welcome but let’s keep this civil. I don’t want to be erasing comments left and right. It goes against the idea of the blog.

Omar, maybe the terrorist thing was a joke too! it’s all good boyo. It’s hard to be light hearted about this stuff when there’s so much passion involved. You’re lucky Egypt doesn’t pull any of this stuff. I’m actually in agreement with you. I’m totally against naturalizing players who have no parental link to the homeland. If Eneramo was born in Tunisia to Nigerian parents then no problem. He qualifies as a Tunisian. But its just not the case.

At first I tolerated Santos then I grew a soft spot for him. I mean how can I not when he’s wet the jersey so many times and performed admirably. However, strictly in terms of policy I just don’t like the message it sends to the youngsters in Tunis trying to make it to the top. I’ve never been ultra nationalist or anything but purely in terms of player development it’s the wrong approach to take. We need young guys like Chermiti and Allagui to get the most international experience they can. It will help their careers and improve them as players overall.

Achraf, I’m looking forward to that press conference too. What sucks is that they didn’t get to see Camus. Mejri went to see him play and he injured himself the night before the game. It’s a shame but hopefully they can get some more tapes of him when he comes back. Allagui is almost certain to be called up for Benin.

Abdullah, our problem is not that we don’t have attackers. It’s that we don’t have true finishers. Besides Santos no one is an out and out goalscorer. Eneramo is. That’s why he’s so appealing. Still, with the 433 system Coelho is using, we don’t need a player like him. The front line can even be composed of wingers in that kind of formation.

Yassine, Ben Khalfallah went a long way towards earning his jersey in that match against France. He might feel more French than Tunisian but both his parents are Tunisian which qualifies him for the team whereas with Eneramo the only thing on his record that is helpful is that he spent 4 years in Tunisia so far. He needs to spend one more and then he’s allowed to get the passport. There might be more regulations than that even… (marriage etc.)

Posted from United States

By Houssem | October 28th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

I’m definitely against this. I have been against it when they gave Clayton a tunisian passport for the 98 World Cup, and Santos for the 2004 ACN. I’m already poised that a lot of our players can’t speak a word of tunisianor sing the national anthem. Hopefully when Chermiti and Chikhaoui are fit again, they’ll earn their first team place again, and nobody will talk about that Eneramo guy anymore

By Pastaman | October 28th, 2008 at 4:51 pm

I do not see the necessity to naturalize this player especially that now -in my opinion- we have enough players who actually can play forward. He has a great capacity as a fast and strong player however that evaluation isn’t a fact beyond the Tunisia First League.
It is urgent that the Coach should consider integrating players whom had/have been actually called and never been given a chance to show us their actual level.
In case those palyers won’t be a great alternative, and -say- we have valuable players who are injured by then (the qualification games) and cannot serve the National Team then it may be OK to consider trying Eneramo out.
Just one thing to keep on mind that is extremely important is that this player is selected mey play VS his NATIVE COUNTRY; Just something to think about.
I’d say No.

By thamer | October 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

i agree with rami, its ridiculous that we should have to naturalize not only a nigerian, but any foreigner to play for us. We arent some unknown minnow but rather an african giant. The only reason we’re discussing this is because chermiti and chikhaoui are injured, when theyre back, and especially if we get allagui to play for us, thats the last you’ll hear of eneramo playing for tunisia.

Posted from United States

By Moni | October 28th, 2008 at 9:47 pm

WE SHOULD GET HIM !!!

The guy is 23 years old , and a type of striker like Ben deffillah but far better. Putting him to the squad like a pinch hitter , would be great.
You guys must accept that tunisia have misserable strikers with no killers instinct. For example are top scorer is a midfielder Ben Yahia with a poor 10 goals.

Dos Santos and Clayton gave tunisia allot. And gave Tunisia a cosmopolitain look.

Iff he is really good , then bring him up I would say !!!

And for the people that are crying because he is not tunisian ore born here , a few years a go Holland and van Basten tried to bring Kalou junior for the dutch squad , Turkey have also some brazilians that are imported , Assamoah from Germany , Abedayor who is nigerian !! but plays for Togo, ore check the french squad for example etc etc

Face it , at the current situation Tunisia mis a strong #9 striker , that can kil in the box .

Posted from Netherlands

By lazar | October 28th, 2008 at 10:35 pm

i dont think its a good idea.. ya, we did naturlize players before and alot of other national teams do it too, but we shouldnt. we dont need him, chikhaoui and chermiti should be back soon, and allagui should be coming to play for us too. common, are tunisian players not good enough anymore or something? so seriously hell no! its a tunisian national team not multinational team! getting european born tunisians should be the limit!

By Abdullah | October 29th, 2008 at 1:07 am

You guys are naming Chikhaoui and Chermiti like they are both strikers??
Chermiti is a #9, Chikhaoui is just an offensive midfielder, we need more quality strikers.

Santos was a good one(and maybe he still is), but most of the strikers we have now arent that efficient.

Posted from Netherlands

By Abdullah | October 29th, 2008 at 1:09 am

Even Chermiti isn’t that reliable, i am sure that day will surely come but right now he’s still developing skills, and learning.

Posted from Netherlands

By Houssem | October 29th, 2008 at 2:41 am

Chermiti is quick and intelligent; if it weren’t for his injury, my guess is that he’d be one of the Bundesliga’s star strikers right now. Chikhaoui may not be a striker, but having him on your team surely increases your attackig options. What we need to do is think of an intelligent follow-up strategy for all our players, especially in the offensive departement, which means check regularly on the injured ones and work more on fitness for the healthy ones to avoid long unavailability. We’ll be fine in 6 months.
This repetitive naturalizing before each big occasion is starting to get on my nerves. It makes us look cheap, denies un any credibility (the Moroccans are still nagging about how we beat them with a Brazilian) and doesn’t help our image at all. What I’d like to see in South Africa 2 and half years from now on our starting game is 11 Tunisians singing Humat Al Hima with pride. That won’t happen with all the second-generation kids, so let them at least look tunisian and have tunisian names.

By Skander | October 29th, 2008 at 4:56 am

Are they going t show the press conference on tv?, if so, can I see it on koora tounsia (sopcast)???

Posted from Sweden

By Skander | October 29th, 2008 at 7:57 am

I would normally be totally against this. Naturalizing a Nigerian so that we can win a couple of games against Nigeria is just too cynical, and we are already the laughing stock of the continent because of Brazilian mercenaries. But seeing as the Loki of soccer has gone against our front line with a sickle, if the only cure is subsaharan voodoo, then so be it!

Posted from Japan

By Moni | October 29th, 2008 at 9:41 am

People talking about tunisian names and , of getting a nigerean only to beat nigeria ????????

I thought the subject is overall about football ? Name me a better box-striker then Eneramo who is tunisian ??

Posted from Netherlands

By tounsi | October 29th, 2008 at 10:21 am

its a bad idea dont do it
i’ll bet that guy isnt even 23 years old but more like 27/28?
u now how it goes in africa. cant be trusted!

what they really need to do is open there eyes and give young tunisian players their chance too prove what they can.

btw: on the holland blog they think tunisia is a very weak team haha even weaker than wales en n ireland:S

Posted from Netherlands

By Yassine | October 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am

Coelho has announced that Yahia won’t be part of the national team anymore as he said to him that he doesn’t want to be selected anymore.
He also stated that he won’t call Ben Fraj for the Benin freindly after he left the bench 15 minutes before France’s match ended.
We won’t see Khedira in a Tunisian jersey as Coelho said that we don’t need players who don’t even to represent ‘their’ country.
Allagui has agreed on joining Tunisia and he’ll surely be in the starting lineup for the Benin freindly.
He said that Chikhaoui is returning in January but yesterday Yassine stated at sport show Mosaique that he’ll be returning next month.
?

By Skander | October 29th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

I think Ben Khalfallah got injured in Caens match against Nice, he was substituted in the 35th minute… What a mystery, everyone that plays for our national team gets injured :S

Posted from Sweden

By omar | October 29th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

i personally think tht tunisia shudnt do tht cuz im sure there r some young tunisians dyin gto play for the national team but u naturalize a foregnier WITH NO TIES TO TUNISIA so u can make the team bttr…there has to be a bttr sloution..srry if i affended anyone previously…:)

By thamer | October 29th, 2008 at 4:49 pm

yea, ben khalfallah did get injured today, theyre still waiting to see how serious it is…fuck.

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | October 29th, 2008 at 6:17 pm

Oh my god guys this can’t be happening :S are we that fragile

Posted from Netherlands

By Achraf | October 29th, 2008 at 7:02 pm

This will piss me off a lot if Fahd will be out for a while. We need him son much to send the passes up the field. He has a great view of the field and knows where everyone is on the field. Lets hope its not that serious

By Momo | October 29th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

I am definitely for this. If he is naturalized, it does not mean automatcially he will guarantee a spot in the National Team. He has to prove he is better than those other forwards on the field. But personally, I think he will find a spot in the team, especially with the lack of all out strikers in Tunisia. He can be of great value to our team, especially that Coleho seems to prefer the 4-2-3-1 formation. Eneramo will fit in perfectly in this system, because he is comfortable playing up top by himslef, and he can beat 2, 3 defenders just by his imposing stature. If he plays in front of the trio of Chikhaoui, Benkhalfallah, and Jemaa or Ben Saada or Belaid, he will be able to capitalize almost every game. I really like Eneramo though, because from the TV segment they had on him, he seems very well indulged in Tunisian culture, and he even understands very well the language. He won’t have any problems of adaptation or anything like that, and he loves Tunisia, and we will love him as well. Let’s not politicize this though please, because as the Koran says you might not love something that can be good for you.

Posted from United States

By Abdullah | October 29th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

I agree it shouldnt be a taboo or something to be ashamed about, though i’d still rather see a tunisian forward so my suggestion is naturalize him, search for the most talented strikers and if the cant compete with Eneramo then we have no choice.

Though that whole scenario seems unimaginable.

Also i thought Coelho said in his first interview that he likes to play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 (i could be wrong though).

Posted from Netherlands

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