Why Moroccan-Dutch Football Talents Are Choosing Morocco Over the Netherlands
Why are young footballers of Moroccan origin increasingly choosing the Atlas Lions over the Netherlands? For former international Ali Boussaboun, the answer goes well beyond football. He denounces how the Moroccan community is viewed in the Netherlands and the lack of role models young players can identify with in the Dutch national team.
“International players are treated like kings in Morocco,” Ali Boussaboun said in an interview with Dutch daily De Volkskrant. The former Feyenoord striker, who earned thirteen caps for the Atlas Lions, urged people to compare that welcome with the rhetoric in the Netherlands about people of Moroccan origin. He denounced, in particular, accusations that they take advantage of the system or fail to show gratitude to their country of birth, which are regularly heard on some television programs.
On Bladi.net : Morocco’s early outreach to Dutch-Moroccan footballers draws scrutiny after Ayoub Oufkir’s switch
The comments come after Ayoub Oufkir and Abdellah Ouazane chose to represent Morocco. The former, a winger for AZ Alkmaar, had until recently been playing for the Netherlands under-21 team. The latter, 17, who came through the Ajax Amsterdam youth system, had also played for the Netherlands’ youth teams before joining the Moroccan sides.
For Boussaboun, these decisions also reflect a sense of belonging. He believes negative rhetoric targeting Moroccans contributes to them being seen as second-class citizens. The contrast with the welcome given to international players in Morocco may then weigh on some players’ choices.
Agent Mohammed Sinouh shares this view. In the investigation published by De Volkskrant, he says he hears many players cite reasons that are not solely sporting. Some were born in the Netherlands, as were their parents, and sometimes do not even speak Moroccan Arabic. Yet, he says, they continue to be regarded as Moroccan in public debate.
Hakim Ziyech’s decision could have changed everything
Ali Boussaboun looks back to 2015 to explain this trend. That year, Hakim Ziyech chose to represent Morocco rather than the Netherlands. The former international believes that decision deprived young Dutch people of Moroccan origin of a player they could have identified with in the Oranje.
“If Ziyech had played fifty matches for the Netherlands, many more boys would have chosen the Netherlands afterwards,” he said. According to Boussaboun, the Dutch national team now lacks iconic figures from this community.
The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is particularly disappointed about Ayoub Oufkir. Director of elite football Nigel de Jong says he identified Oufkir’s potential early on and held numerous discussions to persuade him to continue his career with the Netherlands. Under-21 coach Michael Reiziger had also met the player a few days before he announced his decision.
On Bladi.net : The Netherlands see their 17-year-old gem choose Morocco
The KNVB acknowledges that recruitment efforts and discussions with families are not always enough to persuade dual nationals. It intends to continue its individual support for young players, while Morocco benefits from its international performances and its scouting work among talents trained in Europe.
