“Coaches need to be a little more diverse”: FFF finally responds to Abdeslam Ouaddou

At the beginning of August, Abdeslam Ouaddou had denounced his two rejections for the BEPF before stating: “When the FFF understands that coaches need to be a little more diverse, we will have made progress.”

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After initially refusing to respond, the FFF has now reacted in L’Équipe. Laurent Chatrefoux, who is responsible for the BEPF within the National Technical Directorate, assures that candidates’ origins are not taken into account. Such selection would, he says, be contrary to the law, the Federation’s “fundamental values” and “counterproductive.”

40 candidates for just 10 places

The FFF points out that around 40 coaches apply each year for just ten places. Two oral examinations, focusing in particular on motivation and the technical preparation of a session, play a decisive role in the final selection.

“We understand his frustration, but not the arguments,” replies Laurent Chatrefoux. The Federation also emphasizes that Ouaddou has already obtained the BEF and the DES under its authority, two other coaching diplomas, “without any problem.”

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Jacky Bonnevay, who has known the former Moroccan international since their time together at Nancy, also says he was surprised by his statements. He recalls advising him to go coach abroad when he was finding fewer opportunities in France. Now at the helm of South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, Ouaddou nevertheless remains rejected for the highest French diploma required to coach at professional level.