The nationality of Morocco's future coach and the unusual recess taken by the premier league captivated players and managers this week.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Maghrebia in Rabat– 29/01/10
Moroccan players and politicians alike are eagerly waiting to learn who will be named new Atlas Lions coach, with speculation particularly focused on the appointee's nationality.
Chatter about the appointment, which is due to be announced in a few days, has even supplanted discussion of the premier league's unprecedented decision to take a recess before the new season's start.
For interim Morocco coach Hassan Moumen the national origin of the new top trainer is of little concern.
"What matters most is that officials need to take responsibility for their decision, which I hope will be a correct one and in the best interests of football," he said on January 21st in Rabat.
"Regardless of the nationality of the coach in charge of the national squad, we need to stand on terra firma in managing the affairs of football," said Moumen. "We shouldn't judge solely based on the results achieved by national teams, because good results may mask many problems eating away at our football."
Olympique Safi striker Mehdi Nemli agreed.
"The coach's nationality doesn't matter. What matters is his efficiency and hard work in restoring the dignity and image of the Moroccan national squad," he told Magharebia. Moreover, he said, the coach must have a complete monopoly on management decisions.
"The opinions of the new coach have to be respected by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and by the players. He must not succumb to the intervention of any outside party in his work," Nemli added.
Others stressed the importance of hiring a local coach.
"We have to get rid of the foreign coach complex," Unified Socialist Party chief Mohamed Moujahid told Magharebia on January 21st. "We need to learn from the example of the Egyptian team, which is led by a local coach and made up of local players. I truly think we have some efficient resources that need to be given a chance."
But Moujahid acknowledged that fixing Moroccan football required more than just a coaching change.
"We have a problem ... in managing the sports sector in general", he said. "We need … a comprehensive perspective through which to correctly integrate sports in the policies of education and housing, through training students and creating enough spaces for sport in all residential neighborhoods".
Also stirring the pot among football fans is the unprecedented, three-week recess instituted by the Moroccan Premier Football League. The break began on January 11th after the championship finals, and play is set to resume today. But some players expressed dissatisfaction with the holiday from competition.
"The recess is long and will result in disrupting the rhythm of the league," Olympique Safi midfielder Ahmed Essadek told Magharebia. "A player who stays away from the league for a long time needs at least four successive games before he can pick up where he left off before the recess."
Namli, his teammate, took issue with the shortness of the break.
"I don't think it's enough for the player to rest and resume the league feeling refreshed and invigorated," he said.
Interim coach Moumen said players need rest at the middle and end of the season. But he acknowledged that the recess is "bound to have an impact on players' performance" as they ease back into competition.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/01/29/feature-02.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Maghrebia in Rabat– 29/01/10
Moroccan players and politicians alike are eagerly waiting to learn who will be named new Atlas Lions coach, with speculation particularly focused on the appointee's nationality.
Chatter about the appointment, which is due to be announced in a few days, has even supplanted discussion of the premier league's unprecedented decision to take a recess before the new season's start.
For interim Morocco coach Hassan Moumen the national origin of the new top trainer is of little concern.
"What matters most is that officials need to take responsibility for their decision, which I hope will be a correct one and in the best interests of football," he said on January 21st in Rabat.
"Regardless of the nationality of the coach in charge of the national squad, we need to stand on terra firma in managing the affairs of football," said Moumen. "We shouldn't judge solely based on the results achieved by national teams, because good results may mask many problems eating away at our football."
Olympique Safi striker Mehdi Nemli agreed.
"The coach's nationality doesn't matter. What matters is his efficiency and hard work in restoring the dignity and image of the Moroccan national squad," he told Magharebia. Moreover, he said, the coach must have a complete monopoly on management decisions.
"The opinions of the new coach have to be respected by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and by the players. He must not succumb to the intervention of any outside party in his work," Nemli added.
Others stressed the importance of hiring a local coach.
"We have to get rid of the foreign coach complex," Unified Socialist Party chief Mohamed Moujahid told Magharebia on January 21st. "We need to learn from the example of the Egyptian team, which is led by a local coach and made up of local players. I truly think we have some efficient resources that need to be given a chance."
But Moujahid acknowledged that fixing Moroccan football required more than just a coaching change.
"We have a problem ... in managing the sports sector in general", he said. "We need … a comprehensive perspective through which to correctly integrate sports in the policies of education and housing, through training students and creating enough spaces for sport in all residential neighborhoods".
Also stirring the pot among football fans is the unprecedented, three-week recess instituted by the Moroccan Premier Football League. The break began on January 11th after the championship finals, and play is set to resume today. But some players expressed dissatisfaction with the holiday from competition.
"The recess is long and will result in disrupting the rhythm of the league," Olympique Safi midfielder Ahmed Essadek told Magharebia. "A player who stays away from the league for a long time needs at least four successive games before he can pick up where he left off before the recess."
Namli, his teammate, took issue with the shortness of the break.
"I don't think it's enough for the player to rest and resume the league feeling refreshed and invigorated," he said.
Interim coach Moumen said players need rest at the middle and end of the season. But he acknowledged that the recess is "bound to have an impact on players' performance" as they ease back into competition.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/01/29/feature-02.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.