News.I almost feel Moroccan

Eventually, it had been a pace too much for Raja Casablanca. Beating a dominant FC Bayern Munchen side that rarely loses possession, aside from actual matches, proved a difficult challenge for just a team which in fact had qualified with this year’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the Moroccan championship as opposed to a continental crown.

Reaching the final from the illustrious event will nevertheless be thought to be a victory of sorts. Defeated 2-0 by Bayern, who set up an excellent, satisfactory performance, the Raja players were magnanimous but proud following the encounter, admitting that they had lost with a better team but honoured to possess written a fresh chapter in Morocco’s footballing history. And a country somewhat short of inspiring sporting tales, they also managed to put a smile back on supporters’ faces.

“From the scenes of joy which our run to a final caused, we realised that any of us’ve brought a bit of happiness to individuals’s lives,” explained striker Mouhssine Iajour – who finished third inside the voting with the adidas Golden Ball – to FIFA.com. “After recent brings about major tournaments, they needed a magical moment such as this one."

Indeed, after Morocco’s four consecutive failures to entitled to the FIFA World Cup? and five successive disappointments for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (four first-round exits and another non-appearance), the media’s football fans also have a tough ride recently.

“Everyone decided to give their full backing towards team because we flew the Moroccan flag with dignity generating our supporters very proud,” said midfielder Chemseddine Chtibi. “Let’s hope that it is not only just the conclusion associated with an adventure, even so the start of the an alternative one.”

Encouraged by the raucous crowd of nearly 40,000 supporters, Faouzi Benzarti’s charges realised they were against it early because seventh minute, when Dante gave their European opponents the lead, but with the final whistle there were a distinct deficiency of tears, because Raja players smiled and embraced the other in celebration of these historic achievement.

“I was huge underdogs, but we never let our heads go lower at any time,” said Congolese international Deo Kanda, who had taken part in the victories over Auckland City FC and CF Monterrey, but was an unused substitute versus the Germans, a job which gave him a good viewpoint to appreciate the outstanding support inside the stands. “While i see how much we’ve moved people, it almost makes me feel Moroccan."

Friday, January 10, 2014