Dutch Futsal Team Bolstered by Moroccan-Origin Players in World Cup Qualification Bid

After playing for Morocco, which was able to develop futsal thanks to the investment of King Mohammed VI, Dutch players of Moroccan origin later chose to defend the colors of the Netherlands. Ismail Ouaddouh is one of them. Until last year, he was a Moroccan international. "I played eight or nine international matches for Morocco, but no official matches," says the left-handed striker. He then joined the Oranje squad and continues his football career in the Netherlands with the hope of qualifying for the next World Cup. "If you have played three or more official international matches, you can no longer change. That’s why I could still play for Oranje," he explains. Ouaddouh also mentioned the reasons for his change of sporting nationality. "I work and it’s hard to combine with playing for Morocco. Sometimes you were told a few weeks in advance that the selection was going to get together for training. For me, it was always a challenge to sort that out with my work," he says. And he adds: "After being ignored three times in a row, I decided. I was 28 years old and I wanted to play international matches. The Oranje coach and his assistant really wanted me on the team. We had a discussion."

Ayoub Boukhari, 26, has also become a Dutch international. After participating in a few training sessions with the Moroccan national team, he preferred the Netherlands. "But for me, it was good to choose the Oranje. [...] I want to play as many international matches as possible," he says. He dreams of participating in the next Futsal World Cup with the Netherlands. The last participation of Dutch players in this competition dates back to 2000. To realize this dream, his teammates and him must beat a formidable opponent, Finland. "It’s all or nothing, promises Boukhari. It would be great if we could reach the World Cup. It could give a new impetus to futsal in the Netherlands, as we saw during the last European Championship." His compatriot Ismail Ouaddouh, who has already played against Finland under the French colors a year and a half ago during a tournament in Thailand, is just as optimistic. "It’s fifty-fifty, that’s how we see it as a team too," he assures. "Finland is more professional than us, they have players who play in major competitions. But we have, I think, more talent. The Finns play very physically. We have to have an answer to that. With Morocco, we had won 4-0. But we are not Morocco."

Several factors explain the Netherlands’ interest in players of Moroccan origin. "In the past, there were players like Grünholz, De Bever and Tjaden, now it’s the Moroccans who are the star players. [...] The coach selects the best players. [...] Foreign boys play much more on the street from a very young age. I was there every day myself. You master your technique that way," explains Ayoub Boukhari. In addition to the streets, many children also train today in football schools, which have sprung up like mushrooms. "Whereas you learn the most on the street. Many Dutch boys only choose the hall if it didn’t work on the field." The younger brother of former professional Nourdin will add: "Whereas you should, in my opinion, combine the field and the hall. That’s how it works in countries like Brazil and Spain too. Players like Neymar, Ronaldinho and Iniesta started on the street and in the hall. What they learned there, they later showed on the field as well."