Casablanca teenagers participate in a playoff match for the “Abtal Al Hay” program. Photo: Magharebia/Hassan Benmehdi
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Magharebia, by Hassan Benmehdi (Casablanca, Morocco, May 8, 2014) — In a bid to deter youth from joining extremist groups, Morocco just launched a large-scale sports program. “Abtal Al Hay” (Neighborhood Heroes), a government-sponsored scheme for 30,000 boys and girls under age 15, kicked off May 1st. It runs until the end of July. “The program is entirely community-based,” Sports Ministry official Younes Jouahri said. “The main goal being to offer young people a real opportunity to thrive and a chance to integrate into society,” he added.
Sport teaches young participants about the values of sharing and solidarity, sociologist Amina Bouhlali noted. “In Morocco, sport also enables them to forearm themselves against the dangers of radicalism, drugs and crime,” she said.
Mohamed Benhsain from the “Abraj Association for Development” was among the first to visit the project’s centre in Casablanca’s working-class Derb Sultan neighborhood. “This scheme came at the right time. We need it in order to get closer to young people,” he said.
The program does more than inculcate positive values. It also helps identify future sports stars. “Abtal Al Hay offers an opportunity to young people who want to improve their performance to get proper football training so that they can become tomorrow’s champions,” explained Mohamed Zerrai of the Al Bouchra Association for Integration.
Young people are excited that Abtal Al Hay is a prospecting tool for new talents. Those who distinguish themselves this summer may be noticed by scouts. Close attention will also be paid to the values of fair play and competitive spirit.
Jalloul Balhaj, who coaches a local team in Casablanca, told Magharebia that working with youth in his neighbourhood for several years was an enriching experience. “I discovered how badly these young people want to succeed in football, but without support, guidance and money, many of them give up in the end,” he said.
Yahia Bahhadi, 14, is a talented young footballer who eyes a career with Wydad Casablanca. He credits his training for giving him a whole new attitude. “I learned to respect my teammates, my opponents, the training staff, the referee and spectators,” he told Magharebia.
This is exactly the result that the new Abtal Al Hay program looks to replicate across the kingdom. “The government wishes to give young people the physical, moral and intellectual values that they need for their personal development and professional success,” Youth and Sports Minister Mohamed Ouzzine said in a May 1st TV interview.
A community-based approach to sport is now needed to give Moroccan youth, especially those from troubled areas, a chance “to understand the importance of respecting other people and rules, hard work, politeness, team spirit and self-confidence, thus enabling them to find the path to professionalism,” sports journalist Aziz Badda said. And these skills last forever, even if not all the young athletes end up with a career in sports. ”Out of 40 players trained over a period of more than three years, it’s a great success if ten of them make the team,” Badda added.
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