Carlo Boukhalfa, a 23-year-old midfielder playing for FC St. Pauli, has been experiencing a lot of shadows as a result of the team’s continued success. He has been on the bench four times and in the stands three times over the last seven games. With the team doing well, Boukhalfa has not been given a chance to play in the second half of the season.
Sports director Andreas Bornemann explains that Boukhalfa’s lack of play time is due to the strong performance of the other players on the field. However, he also notes that Boukhalfa has the opportunity to earn his way back onto the field with good performances in training.
While training is good, match practice is just as important. Unfortunately for Boukhalfa, other players like Franz Roggow, Lars Ritzka, and Jannes Wieckhoff are given playing time in the U23s instead. The midfielder is left with the option of either training with the professionals or playing with the youngsters in the fourth division. Boukhalfa chooses the former, hoping to improve his skills and chances of play time.
Boukhalfa’s situation has been tough for both him and the team. FC St. Pauli paid a transfer fee of around 500,000 euros for the midfielder, and his contract runs until 2025. Under ex-coach Timo Schultz, he only had nine short assignments. With the new coach Fabian Hürzeler in charge, Boukhalfa promised to deliver better performance but has yet to see any playing time.
In conclusion, Boukhalfa’s situation shows that even in times of success, some players may struggle to find their place on the team. With hard work and dedication, he may still have a chance to secure playing time in the future.
