First Friendly Match Ends in a Draw Against ASM
The first test of a series of 4 friendly matches ended in a 1-1 draw against ASM. However, the essential aspect for coach Mohamed Mkacher is to discover new players he hasn't had under his command during his previous stint.
Press Review
With no less than 16 players on the bench during the friendly match played last Sunday in Sousse against ASM, which ended in a 1-1 draw, it was clear that Mohamed Mkacher wanted to explore his options and reassess the group of players under his command. Once again, the coach will play a crucial role in selecting the best elements capable of meeting the challenges of the second half of the championship. This is especially important since he didn't choose the summer recruits at his disposal and must do without the players who have migrated to other teams, such as Chaouat and Ben Ali.
New Faces
Among the players he aligned directly, such as Khadhraoui and Chaabani, and those on the bench, including most of the new winter recruits, 5 of whom are foreigners, Mohamed Mkacher has a wide range of players at his disposal. Among the players who have already made a positive impact are Dhaoui and Naouali. It's worth noting that Mohamed Mkacher was the one who revealed Mohamed Dhaoui's talent during his previous stint in the 2022-2023 season, before Dhaoui's exile in Egypt. Mkacher used 23 players, essentially two different teams in each half. The only absentees were Smichi, who returned to his former club, and Kanté, as previously stated. Saber Ben Hassen, who was called up for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, will not be part of this mid-season preparation. In this regard, goalkeepers Gazzeh, Youssef, and Landolsi must seize the opportunity to convince the coach and potentially be aligned during the upcoming Tunisian Cup matches.
Mkacher's Ambitions
Mkacher revealed his new ambitions within the ESS: "Those who were aligned played at a respectable level, but other players must focus more. It's those who are good, who shine in matches, that count. From there, we'll pursue our recruitment and have a clear vision of our squad. As I said, those who deserve to stay will stay. We'll see which players deserve to stay in this group. There are elements whose level and style of play we know, but who are not yet at the expected and required level. But we still have time before the championship resumes to rectify the situation." The man hasn't changed, and the coach still plans to proceed with his own convictions, as he has proven in each of his previous stints.
Upcoming Friendly Matches
Note that the next three friendly matches scheduled are:
- This Friday against Stade Tunisien
- Friday, December 26, against Espérance de Zarzis in Sousse
- Tuesday, December 30, against CSS away from home.
