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The Replacements

December 31st, 2007 | By: Rami | 8 Comments »

Despite earlier claims coming out of the federation, two players, not just one like previously thought, were called into the national team for the pre ACN training camp. Striker Mehdi Ben Dhifallah (Etoile) and defender Khaled Souissi (Club Africain) were announced as replacements to Ali Zitouni and David Jemmali. Personally I take this as good news because I think a competition for places is healthy and I was wondering why Jemmali’s roster spot was deemed unnecessary to fill. On the other hand, its funny they end up taking two when all of last week they were saying Jemmali would not be replaced. I guess I should not be surprised at this point as the Tunisian Football Federation seems to be disfunctional and downright schytzophrenic at times. Granted, we’re not nearly as bad as most other CAF teams in that department. At least this time their unexpected decision actually brings new elements to our team. Ben Dhifallah came on as a second half substitute in Etoiles 3-1 win over Jendouba and scored a brace (the second of which was off a nice header from a typically dangerous Ben Fraj cross).

Given the list of strikers in this team is so small it’s almost certain he will be on the plane to Ghana in a few weeks time. On dimanche sport Zoubeir Beya said that he didn’t disagree with a Ben Dhifallah call up but that he found it indicative of Lemerre’s style during his tenure of the Tunisian national team. What he meant by that is that he seems to always go against the popular choices (in this case that would be Mouihbi, Akrout, Dhaouadi, or Jaziri). I think he has a point there… Speaking of Zoubeir, there is a jubilee game being planned in his honor. It will take place on the 20th of March to coincide with the date of Tunisian independence. Sounds like they’re trying to invite notable players too, lets see if they can get those guys to show up. Hopefully its not the same people that were in charge of getting us friendlies against Morocco and Egypt.

While Ben Dhifallah’s place in the team seems to be assured, this can’t be said about Khaled Souissi. Although he is impressing with Club Africain, it might be a stretch for him to make the cut. I could be wrong but it’s just a feeling I get because he seems to be an afterthought. Whatever the case, he will benefit from the experience and I’m interested to see whether he gets a legitimate chance to show his skills against Zambia in one of the two games planned against them. Meanwhile, the Zambians just lost 4-1 to Andalucia. That result is really surprising to me. I don’t know much about match details or who they had called up but if that was their team at full strength then we should handle them pretty easily when we play them. If you ask some people, their poor performances have a lot to do with their jerseys. For the first game we will be without our French contingent of Jemaa, Ben Saada, and Santos as they will be taking part in Coupe de France matches. They should be available for the second one though.

In Other News

CSS Players Dropping Like Flies

The Sfaxien club simply cannot catch a break these days. After last weeks terrible injury to Amir Haj Messaoud, the club just lost Opoko in a violent clash between him and Esperance keeper Kasraoui. The Ghanaian suffered a double fracture to the tibia and sustained ligament damage as well. Here’s a picture for those who can stomach seeing a human body part in such a state…CSS pulled their players off the field and forfeited the match as they refused to take part in a game that was refereed so badly. While these claims might be slightly exagerrated (only slightly), from the highlights I saw it is true that the ref could have made things easier on himself by whistling the game a little tighter and discouraging dangerous tackles. I feel for the Sfax as this is the second week they see one of their players have their leg split in two. Apoko will be out for 3 months and we wish him a speedy recovery. More to come on what the punishments for CSS will be. They lost the game 2-0 and it just so happens that a forfeit counts as a 2-0 loss automatically as well…

Saber and Seif on the Move?

Seif Ghezel might have palyed his last home game in Etoile colors as he is expected to end up in Switzerland or Turkey. Dimanche Sport cameras approached the player as he was waving tearful goodbyes to the fans who have come to love their captain. He said he can’t comment on which club it was from Turkey as it was a “known” team. but he let it slip that the Swiss team was Neuchatel. However, on the Infosfoot homepage it’s written he flew out yesterday to meet with Besiktas representatives. I’d much prefer to see him there… Saber Ben Fraj might be on the way out too but that seems a little less certain.

Radhi Jaidi Playing Again

Promptly after being called into the national team Radhi Jaidi is once again playing first team football for Birmingham. Former Scotland coach McLeish seems to appreciate Radhi’s size, physicality, and adeptness at heading the ball. Perfect timing as we need him in shape for the ACN. I the game this weekend and thought he did well. Even more impressive was Mehdi Nafti who was credited by the announcers as being the spark that fueled the Birminghams much improved second half performance in their game against Fulham.

Chermiti and Etoile honored

Amine Chermiti was voted best young arab player and Etoile grabbed best arab team honors in a Egypt based El Haram newspaper publication which is announced every year.

Tags: Group H

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Comments

By thamer | December 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pm

i’m really glad saber and seif are going to europe. although they arent the youngest of lads, they wont be too old to represent us at the next world cup(assuming we make it. although im not a big fan of the turkish league, besiktas is a pretty big team that does play eurpoean football(even if they lose lose by record margins) so that will be wven better for us. i think etoile can afford to sell a couple of their best players because with the cash the won from the champions league, finishing 4th at the World Cup and the money theyll make off Chikhaoui’s transfer, they’ll have enough money to buy the best talent in africa.

as for the replacements. i dont think mehdi will embarass us in front of goal. i mean…he is a professional player, and is good enough to play for the african champions, so i’m not TOO worried. As for souissi, i don’t know him too well, but i do know that like a lot of his club africain teammates, he plays for the olympic team, so he should be good. (you can probably tell us more about him rami, seeing as how he’s on your team.)

btw, i think the team from andalucia that zambia lost to was comprised of players from la liga…so that probably explains it.

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By rachid slimane | January 1st, 2008 at 2:42 pm

It’s extremely hard to understand Lemerre’s reasoning in selecting replacements. He had invited once Monastir’s Saleh Mzali and I thought he left a very good impression. So, logic dictates he’d invite him to replace Jemmali. Regardless of Souissi’s capabilities, this is a clear sign Lemerre does not know what he’s doing. Same goes for the selection of Ben Dhifallah, although I love l’Etoile and I’m therefore for another ESS addition. There are other players that seem to be on fire currently and probably can hit the ground running, such as Dhaouadi and Mouihbi of Club Africain. Lemerre should explain his criteria for selecting players. Our federation should demand that and not give him a free hand; he has already proven he cannot be trusted!

By Moni | January 1st, 2008 at 5:06 pm

For the first game we will be without our French contingent of Jemaa, Ben Saada, and Santos as they will be taking part in Coupe de France matches. They should be available for the second one though.
???????????

I don”t understand it anymore 1st Game is JEMAA,BEN SAADA, SANTOS not taking part. ZITOUNI not taking part, CHERMITI not taking part for 2 games.
so for the first game NO JEMAA, BEN SAADA, SAMTOS, ZITOUNI, CHERMITI.
Could anyone explain me who the fuck is gonna play in the tunisian atack ?
BEN FIDDALLAh ? I already hate this fucked up Tunisian preperation.
Because of fucked up Tunisian FA and that prostitute lemerre. Young players don”t get a change beacause of old faggots want to fuck each other, they should by burn alive zabour omhom el 9haba !!!!!!!!
Man without Balls. All Bitches and Lemerre fucked them all in there ass.
Maybe someone can explain me , maybe I”m crazy i dont understand nothing
This ass hole Lemerre have ruined tunisian national talents.
But tunisians like it like that , Iff it was a tunisian coach then He already after 3 months was send out the door.
Zitouni ? After the 2002 games against France and Portugal where Zitouni scored and the whole squad performed good, he dropped Zitouni. And rather took najeh braham. Even without strikers, stil refuse to take Jaziri, ore other strikers from Tunisian Ligue A.
Benachour because gave critic not good for lemerre. Aledinne Yahia , don”t understand why let this players with expierence and 25/26 years , don”t be selected.
Like he is doning it on purpose to destroy tunisian talent , we could have been much and much more improved in these years but we didn”t because we are run by one man. this man surounded by travisteits (tunisian FA) can do what he want , like we living before Independance.
I now already that there isn”t any atmospheer in this team. Team building must be based on trust and players also must give their opinion, but oure players are mistreated like litle childeren , who have nothing to say…

Posted from Netherlands

By Rami | January 1st, 2008 at 5:19 pm

You know Rachid Slimane I had completely forgotten about Salah Mzali while I was writing this last post. I admit that I don’t know much about him as a player but from what I saw in his last game with the national team he’s got some skills and could bring something to the right back position. You’re right about logic dictating that Lemerre should have called him up since he already was included in the team before. With the Souissi call up its looking more and more like we’re going to rely heavily on Saber during this tournament. Hopefully he provides more in attack like he does for Etoile. In his games with the national team he seems stifled or something. Almost like Lemerre told him don’t go too high up the field. I wouldn’t even be surprised at this point. If we win this upcoming tournament it might be in spite of him and not thanks to him.

Thamer I don’t know as much about Souissi as you might expect but I know that he is capable of playing the center of defense so he could provide some cover there. Thing is I’m not sure he’ll make the cut but when he was younger he played on the junior national team and the olympic team. He’s got some experience with the national team set up then, just not the senior one. Hopefully he fits in alright.

Posted from United States

By Rami | January 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 am

Hey Moni, I totally understand your frustration with Lemerre and the Federation. Sometimes I have trouble containing myself as well. One thing I wanted to clarify though because you might have misunderstood is that Jemaa, Ben Saada, and Santos are missing the Zambia friendly on sunday, not the first game of the African cup against Senegal. That would be unacceptable.

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By Skander | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 am

I’m really tired of how many tunisian players chooses clubs. Like Seif Ghezel he went to Turkey and the medical team checked him and everything went right, he was going to Besiktas! there he can win titles, but he Chose Neuschatel Xamax, because it is more near Tunisia and they talk French and………. It’s disturbing, but it’s he who chooses and i wish him all luch in Switzerland. -.-

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