Eintracht professional Khelifi: Adventure in the Venezuelan football paradise!

Eintracht professional Khelifi: Adventure in the Venezuelan football paradise!

Puerto Cabello, Venezuela - Salim Khelifi, a former professional footballer from Eintracht Braunschweig, has experienced an exciting international career in recent years. Born in Switzerland with Tunisian roots, Khelifi hit a professional career who led him from Europe to Australia and finally to Venezuela. During his time at Eintracht Braunschweig, which lasted from 2014 to 2018, the winger scored an impressive 11 goals in 86 professional games and gave 12 templates. Despite the success in Braunschweig, Khelifi had to struggle with the concerns of his family, who were skeptical about his career path.

in 2021/2022 he was able to win the Swiss championship with FC Zurich. But after injury problems, he decided to move to Australia on the recommendation of a friend. There he not only found his joy in playing, but also a new adventure that led him to Venezuela in 2025. There he now plays for the first division club Academia Puerto Cabello and describes the country as "paradise". Khelifi is 31 years old and has paved the way to Venezuela through his stations in Zurich and Kiel.

new challenges in Venezuela

his move to Venezuela came in January 2025, and Khelifi is enthusiastic about the sporting infrastructure of his new club. According to him, this is comparable to the institutions of the Swiss first division clubs. Each player has their own room on the training area, which enables pleasant relaxation after intensive training. The training usually takes place early in the morning to escape the high temperatures, and the noises of dolphins on the nearby beach ensure a special atmosphere.

Despite the positive experiences, Khelifi also had to master the challenges in Venezuela. The country's extreme altitude leads to health problems among the players. In addition, football is associated with a lot of emotion, but has a lower importance than baseball. Khelifi reports on intensive training conditions and also of conflicts within the team.

memories and future visions

The derbies are particularly remembered against 95+1 from his time in Braunschweig, where he proudly looks back on the connection to the fans. However, a return to Eintracht Braunschweig seems unlikely. Khelifi is considering extending his contract in Venezuela by the end of 2025 and is also interested in continuing his career in Asia or Africa.

Overall, Khelifi sees his new life in Venezuela as enriching and is optimistic about mastering the challenges that football brings with it. You can find out more about his impressive career and current experiences on News38 and T-Online .