Basketball brought him to Tunisia, Chennoufi hopes to repay with World Cup ticket

TUNIS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Ziyed Chennoufi chose Tunisia to live his basketball dreams, and he couldn't be more excited to represent the North African country.

Born in Germany to Tunisian parents, the 6ft7in (2.01m) small forward has represented the European country at youth level more than a decade ago, but it's Tunisia that he now calls home.

"[THINKING ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF PLAYING IN THE WORLD CUP] GIVES US AN EXTRA MOTIVATION. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP AND THE OLYMPICS. THAT'S WHAT WE PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL FOR, TO BE ABLE TO LIVE EXPERIENCES LIKE THESE" - Chennoufi

As he started to give the first steps in his professional career in the German League seven years ago, a stepback happened.  

 And, Tunisia was the place where he rebuilt his career after being diagnosed with a career-threating back injury.

And Tunisia national team fans have embraced him so well that he describes that relationship as an experience beyond his wildest dreams.

So much so, that local fans rarely stay silent when the 29-year-old forward hits one of his trademark three-pointers.

A chant "Chennoufi, Chennoufi, Chennoufi" that erupts inside the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Rades, where the national team plays most of its games, have an effect on the player.

Perhaps in the most important game of his career so far, Chennoufi came off the bench to ignite Tunisia with a team-high 19 points in the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 title game against Nigeria.

 
"It gives me goosebumps," he admitted to FIBA.basketball.  

As Tunisia prepare to host the first-leg of Group E of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers from September 14-16,  Chennoufi recalls how important Tunisian fans could be to help the team qualify for their second  World Cup next year.

"Fans here are really excited about basketball, which is the number two sports after football. For me, this is more than a motivation to play for my home country. It’s something special, especially after we won the African Championship last year. It gives me goosebumps every time I wear and play for Tunisia," he noted.

Tunisia currently hold a 6-0 mark ahead of facing Angola, Egypt, and Morocco.

According to a FIBA ruling, the teams that finish first and second in Groups E and F, followed by the best third-place team will earn the right to represent Africa at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.

"So far, we did a good job, but our goal is to qualify for the World Cup," he emphasized.

Although Chennoufi has now become a household name in Tunisian basketball, it wasn't always like that.

After being cut from the team that represented Tunisia at the 2012 London Olympics, Chennoufi promised to come back better and stronger. 

He first wore the Tunisian outfit at an official competition at FIBA AfroBasket 2013. Since then, the man who last played for local champions Etoile Sport de Rades has become a regular member of the team.

"The new coach brought in a new philosophy of basketball, and every member of the team enjoys playing for him."

"I WORKED REALLY HARD EVERY SUMMER UNTIL I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY HERE IN TUNISIA. BASKETBALL BROUGHT ME BACK TO TUNISIA"- Chennoufi

 Now, he says, it's all about proving that the No. 4 team in Africa deserves a right to face the best teams in the world.

"It’s every kid’s dream to be able to play in the World Cup. Who doesn’t want to play against the best teams in the world? I want to, for sure."

“[Thinking about the prospect of playing in the World Cup] gives us an extra motivation. Hopefully, we can qualify for the World Cup and Olympics. That’s what we play for the national team, to be able to live experiences like these."

Chennoufi insists that moving from Germany, where his family still lives, wasn't the easiest challenges he faced in his entire life.

"I was born in Germany, went there to school, and learned to play basketball there. I have played professionally there for one and a half year until I hurt my back. Some doctors told me that I had to quit basketball.

“There was no option for me to quit basketball at the time.

"I worked really hard every summer until I had an opportunity to play here in Tunisia. Basketball brought me back to Tunisia."

“It was tough at the beginning because of the difference between the German and Tunisian mentality. But I got used to it. And, at the end of the day, this is my home country. My parents are from Tunisia, and I love it here. People in Tunisia are super nice."

Chennoufi currently averages eight points and 4 rebounds per game.

FIBA