News Flash – Let’s focus on Africa !

By: Houssem | September 2nd, 2008

Seems like September will be dedicated to the CAF Confederation Cup, since the FTF decided to stop the national competition for the month of Ramadan – which, IMO, is completely unnecessary. These are “professional” football players we’re talking about, they need to keep a healthy diet if they are to train and perform well. I fear this break won’t bring any good to the tunisian league.

CAF Confed. Cup :

As for the Confederation Cup, things are back to square in Group B, as Asante Kotoko (Ghana) beat Al Merrikh (Sudan) yesterday with a 87′ goal by Eric Bekoe. That surely does serve everybody else’s interests in this group, nobody wants to see Al-Merrikh get away so soon. 1-0-1 for every team, 2 home and 2 away games left each : things can get pretty exciting and unpredictable. Next game is against Al-Merrikh, September 13th in Sousse, 10 p.m. local time (again, the Ramadan issue : games are scheduled after sundown to let the prayers have their meal and rest for a while, let’s just hope more than a few thousand fans show up to support their team).

In the other group, CS Sfaxien has taken the lead after two games, including a precious draw against tunisian champions Club Africain, especially if you consider the fact that CSS have lost their first two league games 3-1 respectively to Espérance de Tunis and CS Hammam-Lif. This team seems to do a lot better when an african trophy is involved. I hope for a 100% tunisian final for this cup, since none of our clubs has made it through to the Champions League group stages, we have at least to keep some reputation by bringing this one home.

National Team Call-ups :

Initially, only two (current) Étoile players had made it to Humberto Coelho’s 25 player list for Tunisia’s highly important fixture this week against Burkina Faso in the WC and ACN qualifiers : keeper Aymen Mathlouthi and defender Radhouene Felhi. Now Mehdi Ben Dhifallah has taken advantage of Chermiti’s and Dos Santos’ injuries to make it back on the list after being dropped last week. Along with Mohamed Selliti from Stade Tunisien, he will try to offer the national squad more attacking options. Let’s wish them all the best in securing – why not ? – 3 points in Ouagadougou.

Transfers :

Nothing really worth mentioning like what happened yesterday in England. Only a few loan deals here and there to keep the huge amount of players we have in our football section fit. Youngsters Ouaèl Bellakhal and Adnène Moulla will spend the season at Jendouba Sport, whereas Mahmoud Khemiri and Mehdi Ben Nsira will finally stay in Sousse after Étoile failed to agree terms with AS Kasserine and Club Athlétique Bizertin.