Ruud Krol Appointed Club Africain Head Coach
Club Africain have turned to experienced Dutch coach Ruud Krol to lead their first team, following the dismissal of Nabil Kouki last month. The former Netherlands international was formally unveiled at a press conference in Tunis on Thursday.
Krol, 66, arrives after his most recent spell with Raja Casablanca and is no stranger to Tunisian football, having previously managed both CS Sfaxien and Espérance de Tunis. While his tenure at Espérance ended in disappointment, he enjoyed notable success with Sfaxien, guiding them to a CAF Confederation Cup triumph in 2013.
Speaking at his presentation, Krol expressed enthusiasm about returning to Tunisia and outlined the challenges ahead.
“It’s always nice to work in Tunisia. I’m returning here to take charge of Club Africain’s first team. Our goals will be the Champions League and the Tunisian Cup,” he said. “We will also have to improve the team’s league ranking because CA is not in its right place at the moment.”
Club Africain, defending champions of the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1, have endured a turbulent campaign so far. They sit eighth in the table at the mid-season break, trailing leaders Etoile du Sahel by 19 points. The gulf at the top has piled pressure on the club’s hierarchy to revive their season quickly, both domestically and in continental competition.
Krol acknowledged the urgency of the task, with the preliminary rounds of the CAF Champions League fast approaching.
“We will have to manage the coming period. Our next official match will take place on the 26th. We must get to work and prepare well for the preliminary round of the Champions League scheduled for next month. I am never afraid! That word is not in my dictionary,” he declared confidently.
The veteran coach inherits a squad with potential but in need of cohesion after a string of inconsistent performances. Supporters, frustrated by the team’s decline in form since winning the league title last season, will be looking to Krol to stabilise results and restore belief.
Despite recent setbacks in his managerial career, Krol remains a respected figure in African football. His long résumé includes national team roles with Egypt and Tunisia, as well as club stints in South Africa and Libya. His return to Club Africain offers both a chance at redemption and an opportunity to bring stability to a side struggling under the weight of expectation.
The Dutchman’s immediate priorities will be to raise fitness levels, instil discipline, and implement a tactical structure capable of competing on multiple fronts. The upcoming Champions League fixtures will serve as a critical early test of his ability to rejuvenate the defending Tunisian champions.
With a challenging domestic campaign ahead and continental ambitions at stake, Krol faces perhaps one of his most demanding assignments yet. Whether his experience can lift Club Africain back to the heights expected of them will become clearer in the coming weeks.
