Club Africain, a legend

Overview of the History Club Africain
Fly over the history of Club Africain in a few words is an exercise not only dangerous but somehow arbitrary. Between the buried history and the immediate context, bridging is not easy as the route is fraught with challenges, conquests, symbols and representations. Furthermore, between the commitment of objectivity that readers assume the residual and the text of which is subjective, at times, impregnated, there is a balance to be struck, that is reliable and credible. A reading of the history of Club Africain both critical and passionate is a challenge we are trying to address. Readers should be the judge! The birth of Club Africain, like all great human endeavors marking history, was the culmination of a painful birthing process. Fruit of the investment and sacrifice of a few men of conviction and vision whose pride was matched by the eagerness, the club was born in adversity, after a long showdown. "Since its birth, the African Club has always evolved in adversity, without betraying his identity or his memory." Coming from the mouth of a great figure clubiste, namely Mr. Azzouz Lasram, this statement becomes meaningful and summarized in two words, the trajectory of the club.
I-INTRODUCTION HISTORY

To return the framework of creation of the club, is it appropriate to integrate history and thus the birth place of the club in its historical context. Number of events of a political and sports, at both national and international, have contributed directly or indirectly to the emergence of a national will protest, and by extension, the focus of Tunisian Muslims on the need to to develop a sports association representative. It should be noted that during this period, the French, Italians, Maltese and Jews had their own club, except the Tunisian Muslims. The main events referred to above, who had acted in interaction and correlation, and that the Tunisians were well able to utilize the benefits could be summarized as follows: - In 1917, the global context was shaken by three major events, whose effects were directly affected the socio-political and Tunisia contributed to identify prospects so far blocked: - The First World War 1914-1918: This period of war led to major political, economic, social and sports in order Tunisia. - Fourteen Points of President Wilson American whose message had opened the door to the principles of self-determination and independence for the countries under colonial rule. - Belfour Declaration of 1917, which Declaration fanned hostility between the Muslim, Christian and Jewish. - Development of a national political consciousness and an ideological platform of struggle, but certainly embryonic increasingly evident. It was no coincidence that the year 1920 recorded the first constitution of the Tunisian Islamic political movement, namely the Constitutional Liberal Party (Hezb destouri Horr). - A heated game, played a priori in 1918, between the African Stadium (composed of Tunisian Muslims, among other players) and the Club of Tunis (composed mainly of Jews) had turned into a riot and had led to reprisals between Muslims and Tunisian Jews. Both associations were dissolved. In three years, the political, social and cultural development of Tunisia had been transformed. A certain level of abstraction, Tunisia today is a natural extension of this period. In this context Manichean duality, between colonial rule and nationalist thrust, had crossed the Tunisian landscape, especially the old city of Tunis, the pulse center and the heart of Tunisia's Muslim era, students of the Zaytuna, the Khaldounia, and Sadiki played a role in both the formation and cementing of national consciousness in the valuation of the alternative sport and culture as a control. During this period, Tunis, and essentially the Medina, was one unit in terms of territory and identity, it is only later, after the creation of Club Africain including the old town of Tunis was divided on Plan territory / identity, the Bab-Djedid being the first, and long before others, to forge its own identity around a club, in this case Club Africain.
II-CREATION OF AFRICAN CLUB

Club Africain was certainly officially authorized to carry on 4 October 1920, but his itinerary had not commenced by that date. Club Africain, as claimed by some of its founding fathers, is a natural extension of the African Stadium, an association founded in 1915 and disbanded in 1918, he retained the color, spirit and the name and a cluster of players, particularly Soudani. He was also president of the constituent meeting of the club, namely, the first General Assembly, held in a coffee shop, located in Bab Djedid and belonging to a family now clubiste. It should be noted that the first headquarters of the club was the "Makhzen out of breath" (Deposit of wool), located in the neighborhood of "El Morkadh" (Place of horses). Soudani Jameleddine Bousnina and both were real kingpins of the creative process of the club. The founders are: - Salah Soudani - Jameleddine Bousnina - Ben Mustapha Bashir - Mahmoud Mallouche - Chedly Louerghi - Abdelmajid Chahed - Hassen Nouisri - Mohamed Badr - Mohamed Abdelaziz Agrebi - Abderrazek Karabaka - Manoubi Haouari - Fradj Abdelwahed - Mohamed Ayad - Ahmed Dhahak - Mohamed Ezzeddine - Arbi Negli - Ahmed Zeglaoui - Ahmed Mestaoui - Abdelwahab Bouallegue - Mohamed Machouche (Abdejabbar's father) - Ahmed Ben Miled - Bechir Ben Amor (The first goalkeeper of the club) - Abderrahmen Kalfat Indeed, dice his presentation, the application for authorization had been blackmailed since the approval was subject to three conditions: 1 - The appointed head of sales of a president of French nationality. 2 - Changing colors chosen, namely red and white. 3 - Giving up the national emblem "the crescent and star." This was to force the club members to steer clear of any reference to the national flag and to alienate all his identity base. The terms of this compromise had been flatly refused. Finally, the fury had forced the authorities of the time to give in and give the Club Africain a historic concession on the first two points, namely, Tunisian nationality of the president and the colors Red and White. The founders of Club Africain were much more intransigent and obtained finally prevailed and imposed an entirely Tunisian Office Director, chaired by Bashir Ben Mustapha, a first in sports history and a Tunisian precedent that other teams have built their creation, as the ESS (Zeglaoui Ahmed, one of the founders of Club Africain was, among other things, led to the creation of the ESS) and the Club of Tunisia (currently CSS) Concerning the national emblem "the crescent and star," the stubbornness and obstinacy of the club members but had ended up paying later. Indeed, the desire to have this symbol has never been disproved, the club members had returned to the charge with such obstinacy that they eventually succeed in the mid-forties. Some time after, and as a nod to history, the CA snatched his first championship title. The first General Assembly of the CA was held in a cafe in Bab Jadid, after which a Board was formed, composed entirely of Tunisian and chaired by Mr. Bechir Ben Mustapha. The name "Club Africain" was proposed by Abdelmajid Chahed, immediately endorsed by the entire group. The first Steering Committee of Club Africain were as follows: President: Ben Mustapha Bashir Vice President: Jameleddine Bousnina The Secretary General: Chedly Louerghi The Assistant Secretary: Abdelmajid Chahed Treasurer: Hassen Nouisri In the process, a Sports Commission had been established. It consisted of: Mahmoud Mallouche (Team Captain) Ahmed Zaglaoui Fradj Abdelwahed Hamed Dahak Ezzeddine Bel Haj (Captain of the second team) Managing Director of the Committee: Jameleddine Bousnina. - Guardian: Manoubi Haouari - Backs: Jameleddine Bousnina Machouche Mohamed Mahmoud Mallouche (Captain) - Middle: Hassene Kaddour, Hassen Nouisri, - Wingers: Mestaoui Ahmed, Mohamed Ayad - Forwards: Abderrahmen Kalfat, Arbi Ben Yamina, Zeglaoui Ahmed, Ahmed Dhahak It was not only the first victory of Club Africain, but especially one of the first bursts of Tunisia deep. A legend was born. Just the name "Club Africain" is already a program, this denotes a certain political consciousness and certifies that in the spirit of the founders of the CA, the associative approach was a means of resistance and mobilization against colonial occupation. The conferring of an African dimension to a project of national associations, under a colonial system that was raging across Africa, could be fortuitous or devoid of foundation. In the same vein, adding the term "African" in the name of a Tunisian Association, which was more then governed by French law, was a choice in line with the history and full of meanings. Indeed, Tunisia, whose name was once Ifriqiya, gave its name to a whole continent, namely Africa. Therefore be called "Club Africain" in the early 20th century had a symbolic value and amounted to much more a rallying cry and a call history. There is something unifying and solidarity in the name. The color choice of CA, namely the Red and White, was not accidental or random. Instead, it proceeded from the same vision, was based on the same convictions. The club was a vector identificatory and support to the national cause. Adopting and imposing, despite the colonial diktat, the colors of the Tunisian flag is it not indicative of a national consciousness and a spirit of resistance?! Since its birth, the Board had identified himself to the national cause, its founders had conferred ideological dimensions and human and his supporters rooted spirit from generation to generation. In the same vein, can we fail to mention one of the founders of the Board, Dr. Ahmed Ben Miled, called "doctor of the people," companion of the great Muhammad Ali Hammi, founder of the first Tunisian trade union center. Jameleddine Bousnina, was a great writer and the first sports journalist of Tunisian Arabic. On another level, the cultural dimension and identity was also present in the minds of the founders of C many of which were men of letters and art that marked the cultural heritage of Tunisia. At its inception, the Board articulated its activities on three areas, namely, sports, music and theater. The first membership cards constitute a smoking gun. Within this framework include three examples: 1-After the implementation and consolidation of sales, number of spiritual fathers of the CA, including Ahmed Dhahak, Jameleddine Bousnina and Ben Chedly Belhassen, contributed to the establishment, in 1934-35, the Rachidia, the great temple Tunisian musical heritage. 2 - During the thirties the club already had its own theater. In the fifties, the AC was behind the presentation of certain plays, written, among others, by Ahmed Khairiddine, great man of Tunisian theater and clubiste early hours. 3 - Mohamed Abdelaziz and Agrebi Abderrazek Karabaka, major artistic figures Tunisian, were among the first pioneers club members. The great Tunisian singer Chefia Rochdi funded activities of the club. It is therefore clear that, alongside the green rectangle, the CA has fought in other lands, and not the least, and has won trophies other than sports, and drew the crucible in the national and popular heritage for unborn mature and grow. The club members are the natural heirs of a whole set of values, and consciously or unconsciously, they restore this in their relationship with their club with which they identify. Institutions are but by the greatness of their history, the significance of their approach, by the representations they embody and the power of identification and mobilization they hold, and beyond all social, cultural or regional! Bechir Ben Mustapha Jamel Latrous, through Mustapha Sfar, Moncef Okbi, Dr. Salah Aouij Lasram Azzouz, Fethi Zouhir, Ridha Azzabi, Mokhtar Ferid, Ferid Abbes, Bellamine Cherif, Kamel Hamadi and Iddir Bousbii, both spiritual fathers and prodigal sons, and challenges identified, of ordeals and conquests wrested from the sweat and tears. The people drew clubiste, and always draws in its culture and values, that strength and pride to rebound and surpass themselves. Along with this weight of history, the CA has always been a big family, though rather introverted because that cares about its heritage and emotional repository, but protected by the guardians of the temple, which, by a kind of implicit code of conduct and unwritten, have forged and perpetuated the true values ​​clubists. III-ITINERARY OF AFRICAN CLUB In summary, and without too much oversimplification, one could identify three major phases in the route of sales, each governed by its own logic, driven by motivations and contextual faces specific constraints. This triptych is necessarily arbitrary, others could be considered: A-Period 1920-1960: Despite a difficult genesis and evolution of a hit, the CA was able to stay the course without deviating from the original principles nor shirk its national role. The sporting aspect was the lever to mobilize and organize the Tunisian youth in anti-colonial perspective, certainly not yet militant front. Therefore, neither the approach nor the goal of obeying exclusively moving sports. The profile of the founders of the CA, the political dimension of their identity and project evidenced. It should be noted that football was during this period the main sporting activity of the CA, there was certainly baseball, but this section did not last long. Other disciplines, such as handball, volleyball, basketball, were introduced after independence. The turnover in 1934-35 During this period, and despite the modest resources and constraints on the ambient environment, the club continues to grow and has recorded many achievements: - Accession to the First Division in 1937. Since then, Club Africain has never known the lower floors. - Premier league title in 1947-1948 season. The fact that the club has monopolized the championship title of the seasons 1947-1948 and 1948-1949 shows that the club had managed the post-war (WWII) and was strong enough and compact to move on solid ground . - Contribution of the club to the entrenchment of Tunisian culture, the creation of Rachidia and contribution to the formation of a Tunisian theater, are the most compelling stories. It is not inappropriate to recall that the club had its own theater since the thirties. - The CA is the first Tunisian club to organize cultural and artistic events (music concert, theater presentation, ...) and to grant free entry to the stadium to the female, and since the thirties. - The CA is the first Tunisian club to give an identity to a neighborhood, namely Bab Djedid place of memory and belonging. This alliance club / district was from the outset a vector identification, the first lever, in the modern history of Tunisia, tying a club viscerally to a suburb. Bab-Djedid was a social space and movement of club members, including founding fathers, much of which was in issue. On another level, and during the said period, the club has resisted certain tendencies of disfigurement if not of isolation to position itself as a club with its own identity. Particular mention the attempt, quickly aborted, Habib Bourguiba to merge with Club Africain Esperance of Tunis in 1934, when Bourguiba was demarcated from the Constitutional Liberal Party (Hezb destouri Horr) and, in dissent, had created the party Neo-Destour, March 2, 1934 at Ksar Helal. This episode demonstrates that 14 years after its inception the club already had its own identity and had enough strength to refuse the injunction of Bourguiba, the new strongman of Tunisia at the time. B-Period 1960-1990: This is the epic-period during which the CA, on a roll, collected most of his trophies on both nationally and regionally. Omnisports and omnipresent, the CA has marked this period of his mark and has restored many times the national coat of arms. The CA was one of the best standard-bearers of Tunisia, and the women's section was not the slightest! During this period, two presidents, among others, have left their mark on the evolution of the club and have stabilized structures and foundations, namely, Azzouz Lasram and Mokhtar Ferid. In sports, both men have also shaped some gaming culture clubiste well. Generations of players have remained until today viscerally imbued with "the philosophy of play" of Fabio Marchegianni and Andrew Nagy. It is clear that the club was based at that time, the dual administrative and sports, on a stable environment and men project, which registered their shares in a strategic vision. On another level, the club has introduced a pioneering structure, namely "the Committee of Wise Men" as the other associations were quick to imitate. This committee acted as guardian of the temple and brought clubiste financial aid regular and predictable. The CA drew strength and identity from four sources, full correlation, which the most important: - Training has always been a key pillar of the temple clubiste and one of the largest cement its identity, and he is not training in sports only acceptance. Historically, the Board relied on her children, in the field and off the pitch. Great training school leaders, this is the main strategic pillar of the capital club. Virtually, all major figures clubists have worn the jersey red and white and transmitted this culture of belonging between generations and eras. Is it coincidence that the CA has never been performing with his own children. - Since its inception, the Board has always cultivated the notion of family. Managed in a manner almost collegiate where consensus was the rule and that the people clubiste adhered well and quickly, the Board formed generations of leaders, whose personal investment was part of that spirit and valued this "trademark" typically clubiste. - Historically, the people clubiste identified himself to the club and was so worn that it marks the end of the arms although its presence in the stadiums and outside. The identification of large supporters club reflects, at least in part, the vitality of the identity of the club. As an illustration, during all 80 years, the club has not won a title without that "the wilderness" has led to major crises since cement identity and bonds of trust and loyalty between the base and the top acted as a powerful protective shield. Never "Street" has performed an act of disconnecting or attempted to impose decisions. - Bab-Djedid, birthplace, crucible of memory and stronghold of record, was the center of gravity of the movement clubiste. The district has ever feasted as much during this period. There is no doubt that both the official discourse of the time, advocating for volunteerism and the Olympic spirit, the sporting context Tunisia, characterized by the amateur and the notion of belonging to a color, are certainly not foreign to the success of the CA, as these factors maintained, to a large extent, the layer of identity. Period C-1990 - Our day: This period began with the conquest of historic quadrupled in 1992, performance unique in the annals of Tunisian football, made with vintage children, all formed in the mold clubiste. This unprecedented athletic prowess was followed in 1996 by a new title won handily after an outstanding season and an unbeaten record made by goalkeeper Boubaker Zitouni. The Club had to wait 12 years thereafter to renew with the coronation. A security acquired in suffering and pain to the final day of the championship before more than 60,000 delirious spectators, a record attendance ever made in the Rades stadium