La Presse —
There is no need to revisit the shortcomings that were laid bare after the African Nations Championship, where the national side measured the gap it gave its main rival (for the moment) Egypt.
What worries us most are the problems that are now compounding an already increasingly difficult management situation.
Indeed, when we find ourselves in justified—or not—conflicts with clubs, when referees tremble, if not threaten, when discipline (the foundation of any initiative) is no longer guaranteed, there is cause for concern.
Handball has, over the past decade, lost much of its luster. We can hardly see who is capable of shouldering the effort to turn the situation around.
We do not see any “type” players who possess the profile of a leader—those play‑makers who can rally their teammates.
Charismatic figures who command respect from both opponents and partners are missing. Even those we consider brilliant players abroad have faltered at every major meeting.
Physically and mentally, they have found ways to be absent.
Sometimes it is due to injury (chance sometimes works in our favour), but we are far from having the full availability of those overseas players who used to come on “commando missions,” impose their know‑how, and then return peacefully to clubs that were among Europe’s top teams.
Putting the technical side aside, the real source of anxiety lies in the management and conduct of Tunisian handball.
It is not easy to work while constantly being prey to self‑appointed “justice‑seekers” who believe nothing can succeed without their presence.
Internal power struggles that weaken the sport damage the prestige of Tunisian handball on the continental and international stages, make sponsors hesitate, erode discipline, and ultimately risk compromising everything.
These marginal problems that keep surfacing are like thorns sowed to undermine the whole system.
And when we are supposed to be in a preparation phase for the next African Championships, we can hardly see how to restore players’ confidence and restart the work.
Shadow Zone
What remains is the loss of an audience that used to push players beyond their limits. The big matches traditionally took place, with authority, at the El Menzah Sports Palace.
Moving them to Radès because the El Menzah venue was unavailable caused a serious setback, and it seems the contract signed with TV would benefit from the refurbishment of that hall, which truly helped lift national handball.
But under these conditions, how can we envision a revival when clubs are constantly tearing each other apart for any reason?
How can confidence be rebuilt when refereeing—renowned for excellent performances abroad—is contested domestically?
This behaviour inflicts huge damage on a sector that otherwise enjoys broad consensus at the continental level.
In the meantime, this period of fumbling has gone on long enough, and we must leave this shadow zone as quickly as possible.
Alarming.
