Ex-whip star Khelifi: Adventure in the Venezuelan football paradise!

Ex-whip star Khelifi: Adventure in the Venezuelan football paradise!

Puerto Cabello, Venezuela - Salim Khelifi, the former wing player of Eintracht Braunschweig, embarked on an exciting new journey. In January 2025 he signed the Venezuelan first division club Academia Puerto Cabello. Khelifi, who has Tunisian roots and was born in Switzerland, brings a multifaceted experience from his professional career. From 2014 to 2018 he was active for Eintracht and scored 11 goals and 12 templates in 86 games. After a successful time in Switzerland, where he won the championship in the 2021/2022 season with FC Zurich, he was looking for new challenges in Australia due to injury problems before moving to Venezuela, where he describes the country as "paradise", despite the special challenges that football brings with it.

The decision to move to a country that is known for its difficulties was viewed by his family with skepticism, but the urge to adventure did not let him dissolve. Khelifi now plays in a league where the football level is different than in Europe. The extreme altitudes in Venezuela often lead to health problems among players. Despite these challenges, Khelifi is enthusiastic about the sporting infrastructure of his new club, which is comparable to that of Swiss first division teams in many aspects.

training and living conditions in Venezuela

The training conditions are intense. Training units often take place early in the morning to escape the heat. The players have their own rooms right on the training area, which can be used for relaxation after the training sessions. In addition, the training places are near the beach, where the noises of dolphins can be heard during the units - a harmonious picture that Khelifi appreciates.

But football in Venezuela does not have the same status as in many other countries. Baseball dominates strongly, and the emotions with which football is played surprise the former Braunschweiger. Khelifi already has some intensive training sessions and reports on conflicts that can occur in such situations. Nevertheless, he felt more than in Venezuela over time and sees his new life there as an enrichment.

memories of Braunschweig and the future

Even if he enjoys his new phase of life in Venezuela, Khelifi often thinks back of his time in Braunschweig. He has special memories of the derbies around 95+1 and is proud of the experiences he made with the fans of Eintracht. A return to Eintracht Braunschweig is unlikely, but fans still feel important to him.

KHELIFI is considering extending his contract with Academia Puerto Cabello, but a move to Asia or Africa could also be an interesting option for him. At the age of 31, the former Eintracht player still has many ways to continue his career on an international stage. The adventure in Venezuela has just started and many exciting challenges are still imminent.