Mocked by Dutch footballers, Safwan Meftah earns a place on Morocco’s hockey team after his mother posts a photo
A photo his mother posted on Instagram helped 18-year-old Safwan Meftah join Morocco’s field hockey team. The young player from Rotterdam now takes part in training camps with a team made up of Moroccans living in Europe.
In the Netherlands, Safwan Meftah was mocked for a long time because of the sport he played. He recalls, in particular, arriving at a school for elite athletes, where he was surrounded by young Feyenoord footballers. When one of them learned he played hockey, he moved away and advised the others not to associate with him.
“When you’re out with a few footballers and want to say you play hockey, people make fun of you very quickly,” the young man told Dutch outlet Hockey.nl.
It was his mother who suggested he try the sport while he was spending most of his time playing football. He started at HC Delfshaven before joining Leonidas, where he played for two seasons in the under-18 team. Despite comments from those around him, he continued playing, with a temporary break.
Morocco brings its players together in Antwerp
He was recruited by the Moroccan team in an unexpected way. Someone involved with the team spotted a photo of Safwan in hockey gear on his mother’s Instagram profile. The young man was then invited to a selection session in Antwerp, Belgium, after which he was chosen.
Formed in its current shape around six months ago, Morocco’s men’s team brings together players of Moroccan origin living in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy, among other countries. Training takes place about twice a month in Antwerp.
On October 19, the team played its second organized friendly, losing 2-0 to Concordia, a Dutch second-division club. Safwan, who plays at right back, hopes to win an African title one day and compete at the Olympic Games with Morocco.
At the same time, through his company Next Up Rotterdam, he organizes introductory hockey sessions in neighborhoods in western Rotterdam. He offers children several sports activities before introducing them to hockey. Those who want to continue are directed to HC Delfshaven, his former club. He would also like to develop these activities in Morocco, where there is no infrastructure dedicated to field hockey, according to the Dutch outlet.
