Hedi berkhissa
Encyclopedia
Hédi «Balha» Berkhissa (born June 28, 1972 in Kerkennah, Tunisia
-died January 4, 1997 in Tunis
, Tunisia
) was a former Tunisia
n football
er who played for Espérance and the Tunisian National Team
as a defender
.
on May 9, 1972 to a Tunisia
n father and Algeria
n mother. In December of that year, he left with his family to settle in France
but returned six years later to learn Arabic. Unable to settle, he later decided to move back to France only to return permanently to Tunisia
with his family when he was 16. Having played football whilst living in France he joined his local team in the capital, Espérance.
against local rivals Club Africain
, with the game ending in a draw. He scored his first league goal for Espérance in the Tunis derby
against Club Africain
a game which ended in a 2-0 victory for Espérance. In total, Berkhissa made 98 league appearances for the club, scoring 9 goals. He also made 13 appearances in the Tunisian President Cup
and made 24 appearances in African club competitions scoring 2 memorable goals in one game against Egypt
ian giants Al Zamalek.
side Olympique Lyon at Stade Chedli Zouiten
, Berkhissa had a heart attack on the field in the last minutes of the game and died.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
-died January 4, 1997 in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
) was a former Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who played for Espérance and the Tunisian National Team
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Early life
Berkhissa was born on the island of Kerkennah off the coast of TunisiaTunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
on May 9, 1972 to a Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n father and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n mother. In December of that year, he left with his family to settle in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
but returned six years later to learn Arabic. Unable to settle, he later decided to move back to France only to return permanently to Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
with his family when he was 16. Having played football whilst living in France he joined his local team in the capital, Espérance.
Career
Berkhissa made his first appearance for Espérance when he was 18 years old. It was a dream debut on the January 31, 1991 in the Tunis derbyTunis derby
In Tunisian football, the Tunis derby is the local derby between the two major clubs in the city of Tunis, Tunisia – Club Africain and Espérance. The derby is played in Rades in the Stade 7 Novembre stadium due to its larger capacity of 65,000 seats...
against local rivals Club Africain
Club Africain
The Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...
, with the game ending in a draw. He scored his first league goal for Espérance in the Tunis derby
Tunis derby
In Tunisian football, the Tunis derby is the local derby between the two major clubs in the city of Tunis, Tunisia – Club Africain and Espérance. The derby is played in Rades in the Stade 7 Novembre stadium due to its larger capacity of 65,000 seats...
against Club Africain
Club Africain
The Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...
a game which ended in a 2-0 victory for Espérance. In total, Berkhissa made 98 league appearances for the club, scoring 9 goals. He also made 13 appearances in the Tunisian President Cup
Tunisian President Cup
The "Tunisian President Cup" mostly known as the Tunisian Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Tunisian football. It was created in 1922.-Winners before independence:*1922/23 : Avant Garde *1923/24 : Racing Club...
and made 24 appearances in African club competitions scoring 2 memorable goals in one game against Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian giants Al Zamalek.
Death
On January 4, 1997, in a friendly match between Espérance and FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
side Olympique Lyon at Stade Chedli Zouiten
Stade Chedli Zouiten
Stade Chedli Zouiten is a multi-purpose stadium in Tunis, Tunisia. It is currently used by football team Stade Tunisien. The stadium holds 20,000 people....
, Berkhissa had a heart attack on the field in the last minutes of the game and died.
Honours
- Chosen as the Tunisian Player Of the Year in 1995
- Chosen as the Arab Player Of the Year in 1995
- Won the Tunisian LeagueTunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1The CLP-1 or "Championnat de la Ligue Professionnelle 1" is the top division of the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. It was created in 1921.-History:...
three times with Espérance in 1991, 1993 and 1994 - Won the Tunisian President CupTunisian President CupThe "Tunisian President Cup" mostly known as the Tunisian Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Tunisian football. It was created in 1922.-Winners before independence:*1922/23 : Avant Garde *1923/24 : Racing Club...
once with Espérance in 1991 - Won the African Champions League once with Espérance in 1994African Cup of Champions Clubs 1994The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1994 was the 29th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
- Won the CAF Super CupCAF Super CupThe CAF Super Cup is an annual African association football competition contested between the winners of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. The competition was first held in 1993 and is organised by the Confederation of African Football...
once with Espérance in 1995 - Won the Arab Club Champions Cup with Espérance in 1993
- Won the Afro-Asian Club ChampionshipAfro-Asian Club ChampionshipThe Afro-Asian Club Championship, sometimes referred to as the Afro-Asian Cup, was a football competition endorsed by the Confederation of African Football and Asian Football Confederation , contested between the winners of the African Champions' Cup and the Asian Club Championship, the two...
with Espérance in 1995 - Finalist of the African Cup of NationsAfrican Cup of NationsThe Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
once with TunisiaTunisia national football teamThe Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
in 1996