Fallen Prodigy Rises: Ihattaren’s Redemption Journey Unveiled

The film, directed by Joël van den Heuvel, dwells on the turning point in his life: the death of his father. "He was my hero. My everything," the 23-year-old footballer confesses at his grave in Morocco. His brothers testify to the devastating impact of this loss on the young player, who then lost his focus and began to frequent the wrong people.

Sadness manifested itself in a struggle with his weight. "I’m an emotional eater," Ihattaren admits in the documentary, revealing that he reached 120 kilos. A dark period where the once-prodigy player completely moved away from the demands of high-level football.

The documentary aims to be a story of reconstruction, rather than just a catalog of his scandals. "It’s not just about his dark period, but above all how he gets out of it," explains the director. The images show him training, losing weight and rediscovering the pleasure of playing, first at Waalwijk, then at Fortuna Sittard where he currently plays.

The director, who spent a lot of time with the player, says he discovered a "good boy" who "simply sometimes lacks discernment," without "bad intentions." The film does not offer a definitive happy ending; it ends with Ihattaren still running. "In any case, there is a lot of hope that it will succeed," concludes the director, "so he now really has to keep working hard."

The documentary "Mo Ihattaren-The Trial" will be broadcast on Wednesday, October 15 at 8:30 pm on NPO 3.