SALE (African Clubs Cup/AfroBasket 2015) - Makram Ben Romdhane's time in Spain's ACB lasted just one season, meaning that the Tunisian presence in European clubs is reduced to just one player - Real Madrid center Salah Mejri.

A prominent player for Tunisia's national team, Ben Romdhane played 32 games for UCAM Murcia during the 2013-14 Liga Endesa campaign. He averaged 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest, modest contributions but ones which his national team captain Amine Rzig insists should not define his potential.

"He can do better than he did (in Spain). He is young, hard-working and is good enough to play in top leagues in France, Spain or Turkey," he told FIBA.com.

In the offseason, Murcia - after finishing 13th out of the ACB's 18 teams  - revamped its squad.

Ben Romdhane and six others were let go, as the team signed a number of new players including former Spain international Carlos Cabeza and Brazil’s rising star Raulzinho Neto.

Last month, the 25-year-old joined Egyptian side Sporting Alexandria, a team that will compete in the 2014 edition of the African Clubs Cup - FIBA Africa's top club competition - in December (14-21) in Tunis, Tunisia.

Over the past few years, the 2.06m forward received plaudits from observers for his impressive combative spirit and talent, prompting Tunisia's head coach Adel Tlatli to suggest - during their AfroBasket 2011 title run - that he would not take long to be featuring in the Euroleague.

USA coach Mike Krzyzewski followed Tlatli's speech hailing Ben Romdhane's performance in Tunisia's 110-63 defeat to the USA at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Tunisian ace finished that encounter with game-highs 27 points and 10 rebounds against a team that consisted of the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love.

"Ben Romdhane played a magnificent game," Krzyzewski said at the time. "He played with great heart. If he is given the chance of playing at high level he could improve his game."

That kind of observation, Rzig says, reinforces the theory that the Tunisians are missing out something.

"Half of our national team has enough potential to play in Europe. We just need good agents to pave the way for competitive leagues in Europe," he offered.

"I am sure sooner rather than later he (Ben Romdhane) will be back in Europe."

Tunisia will host AfroBasket 2015, a qualifier tournament for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

For Rzig, a member of Egyptian side Al Ittihad, playing in front of their fans will give Tunisians another chance of showing the world their basketball talent.

"We are as talented as any of the big teams on the continent like Senegal or Nigeria. Even though we are still a year away from the African Championship, we can't stop talking about it an we are highly-motivated."

Between now and then, Ben Romdhane has ample time to show what he can do, beginning at the ongoing Arab Clubs Basketball Championship (26 October-8 November) in Sale, Morocco.

FIBA