Tunisian players thoughts are back home at worlds (News Feature)

By Martin Kloth Jan 19, 2011, 13:08 GMT

Kristianstad, Sweden - Tunisia's handballers are doing their best to stay focused at the world championships and to provide their people with something to cheer in difficult times.

Playmaker Heykel Megannem says the team is trying to turn the political turmoil into a source of strength at the tournament in Sweden.

'The people love sport and are watching our games,' says Heykel. 'It is not easy. It is the mentality of the players to turn the action at home into a source for their own performance.'

Tunisians had other things on their mind when the team opened the tournament on Friday with a 32-19 defeat against France. It was the day President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali went into exile after a month-long popular revolt that claimed dozens of lives.

Tunisia went on to lose narrowly against handball superpower Spain (21-18) and on Tuesday the African champions had to swallow a 27-23 defeat against arch-rivals Egypt.

The political tensions found their way into the Kristianstad arena as supporters unfurled a banner saying 'Game over Ben Ali' during the first match.

The players are naturally up to date with the fight for democracy at home when they are not training or playing.

'We are following everything via Facebook and YouTube,' says Megannem.

The 33-year-old playmaker is trying to appear as composed and calm as possible in his chair in the team hotel lobby. But his legs are constantly moving as if he wanted to run all the way back home to his friends and family.

The eyes of Megannem, who has been playing club handball in France over the past decade, light up when he speaks about the future in his home country.

'It is a good situation. We will have elections in six months. We will have to freedom of speech and thought. We will have democracy. It will be like in a European country after the election,' says Megannem.

But first comes sport as Tunisia aim for success on the playing fields just as other athletes and teams have done in the past amid political tensions or even war at home.

The defeat against Egypt was a bad blow and hurt the Tunisian team's pride.

'We have a sporting problem. We lost. That is bad,' says Megannem.

Tunisia now needed to beat Bahrain later Wednesday and ex-champions Germany on Thursday to reach the next round at its ninth participation, highlighted by a semi-final berth at the 2005 home edition.

But Megannem is realistic that his personal championship farewell will rather take place in the consolation round, the President's Cup, which according to him should simply be scrapped.

'That's the worst thing at a world championship. I don't know why it means. I'd rather go back to my family,' he says.

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