Tunisia’s Esperance will be tough hurdle for Downs

ESPERANCE of Tunisia are no strangers in taking on opposition from South African, but a measure of the stature of the club is that all of the past clashes have come in the African Champions League.

It is rare that the club from the Tunisian capital play in anything but the top continental club competition and‚ as two-time winners‚ enjoy a reputation for consistency.

They are in South Africa to take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the group phase of the Champions League in Atteridgeville, Tshwane, tomorrow night – with both clubs level at the top of Group C.

It will be the fifth meeting of the two clubs‚ who previously clashed in the group phase in 2000 and 2001.

The honours are even, with one win apiece and two draws.

Esperance met Super Sport United in the group phase in 2004 and beat them home and away and, in the knockout stage eliminated Kaizer Chiefs in 2005‚ albeit with blatant cheating. The Egyptian referee was suspended for a year afterwards for his deeds.

But Esperance’s last meeting with a South African club was one of Mzansi football’s finest hours when Orlando Pirates forced a score draw away in a gritty display of character to advance to the 2013 Champions League final on the away goals rule.

This is the 14th time in the 20 years since the Champions League was launched that Esperance have reached the group phase – a record they share with Al Ahly of Egypt.

For a long time‚ too‚ they were vilified as the most hated club in African football, for their continued efforts to manipulate officials‚ referees and players – and for the actions of their own staff.

They have few friends outside of Tunisia‚ a country split in half by those who follow the club and those who loath it.

Esperance were closely connected with the regime of Zinedine Ben Ali‚ the long-time dictator, whose overthrow in early 2011 sparked the Arab Spring uprisings and tumultuous changes since in the Arab world.

His son-in-law‚ Slim Chiboub, ran Esperance, with his connections to the top meaning everyone was in fear of him.

The club always seemed favoured in domestic competition and were rarely beaten.

Marginal decisions normally always went their way.

Chiboub had won posts at International Olympic Committee‚ Confederation of African Football and Fifa level‚ where he was on the all-powerful executive committee, so he was able to influence the appointment of referees for key African club competition matches.

When the regime toppled‚ he fled to Dubai and the Swiss government froze his bank accounts. He went home to face the music, was jailed, but later pardoned.

Chiboub has nothing to do with the club any longer.

Wealthy businessman Hamdi Meddeb is now in charge, and brought back veteran coach Faouzi Benzarti for his fourth spell at the club in January.

Esperance’s squad for tomorrow includes a bevy of Tunisian internationals, but just one foreigner – Ivory Coast midfielder Fousseny Coulibaly.