Taarabt will represent Morocco

[Davey-O]

Without wanting this to descend into a history lesson or a rant the other side of the coin of foreign imports (or as many other countries see it as Foreign exports)

You have to take note that there has been a big sports media campaign/issue in Morocco in Moroccan/Moroccan-born/or of Moroccan descent players representing the bigger european nations.

Some of the ex-players have come up in the press saying that not enough is being done to encourage these foreign based players to represent Morocco rather than Holland, France, Belgium, Spain etc.

Personally, I find it gets quite frustrating seeing your countrymen who are supremely talented representing another nation.

Some fantastic players over the years in footballing history have represented teams other than the country of their origin.

Morocco have been one of the main victims of this. To name a few greats players have played for France and Spain respectfully

Larbi Ben Barek (One of the first stars of African Football - represented France)
Nayim (Yes, our Nayim who scored from the halfway line)
Just Fontaine (held the record for most goals scored in a single World Cup finals tournament, with thirteen before Ronaldo)

The latest batch of players would arguably make any country that bit stronger.

Otman Bakkal (PSV) Dutch U21
Adil Rami (Lille) French Seniors
Ismaïl Aissati (PSV) Dutch U21
Khalid Boulahrouz (Sevilla) Dutch Seniors
Ibrahim Afellay (PSV) Dutch Seniors
Maroune Fellaini (Standard Liege) Belgian Seniors
Ibrahim Maaroufi (Inter Milan)
Younes Kaboul (Spurs) French U21
Adel Taarabt (Spurs) French U19
Habib Bellaïd (Strasbourg) French U21
Yassin Moutaouakil (Charlton Ath) French U21
Karim El Mourabet (Nantes) French U21
Nordin Jbari (La Louviere) Belgian Seniors

Admittedly, most of you will not have heard of some of these players, but its surely an indication that if they are able to make the teams of the Spain, France, Holland, Belgium etc. Their presence is missed in the Moroccan teams.

Maybe the wrong place for the rant but who else would understand other than my fellow Spurs supporters.

.....I feel a bit better now :grin:

Mate I think you've been caught out by a late April fools.

There is no Morocco! They are just winding you up.

And even if there was a little hot country called Morocco, its not very likely they would produce any good footballers.

 

[yanno]

I get what you are saying and it's not that I am unsympathetic to the problem but, the players you have named above are all born in either France/Belgium/Holland and as such should firstly represent the country of their birth and not the one there parents or grandparents were born in. In my opinion I would only allow players to represent the country of birth and nothing else.

For example if I was talented enough (I am in no way talented enough) I could play for either Scotland the country of my birth or Ireland as I have family on my grandmothers side of the family that would make me eligible but, I would never, ever consider playing for an Irish national team as I wouldn't be representing my country, I would just feel wrong about it.

nidge - I hear what you're saying, but I think the ability to opt for any of the "British Isles" countries is very different from having radically different inheritances: such as French and Moroccan in Taarabt's case.

As an example, Fredi Kanoute has had a very ambigous relationship with Mali. He was born in Lyon to a French mother and Malian father. As a young man, he considered himself very "French". But, from his public comments, you get a very strong sense that part of Kanoute's reasons for playing for Mali was to embark on a journey of discovery into that part of him that is Malian. Sometimes he liked what he found, sometimes he didn't (he describes somewhere being chased from a Malian stadium in fear for his life after the national team had performed very badly)!!!! But it was part of growing up as a man.

For myself, I was born in London to an English mum and a Polish dad. If I'd been good enough, I would certainly have considered playing for either England or Poland at sport. But playing for Poland would have been more of an "adventure"....

So, as a Spurs fan, I'm irritated at the consequences for the club of Taarabt potentially opting to play for Morocco. However, putting that to one side, if he does opt for Morocco, I'll respect his decision and hope the experience helps him mature as a man. And I'll certainly be cheering if he goes on a Ricky Villa run and sticks one in the net - whether it be for Spurs, France or Morocco!

 

[paul_1979yid]

oh joy theres another player that we will loose for the african nations (if he is in the 1st team or even here by then)

although the competivness of a full international game could help him improve

We would hardly miss him!

 

[Locotoro]

Mate I think you've been caught out by a late April fools.

There is no Morocco! They are just winding you up.

And even if there was a little hot country called Morocco, its not very likely they would produce any good footballers.

:duh: :stupid:

 

[Locotoro]

I get what you are saying and it's not that I am unsympathetic to the problem but, the players you have named above are all born in either France/Belgium/Holland and as such should firstly represent the country of their birth and not the one there parents or grandparents were born in. In my opinion I would only allow players to represent the country of birth and nothing else.

For example if I was talented enough (I am in no way talented enough) I could play for either Scotland the country of my birth or Ireland as I have family on my grandmothers side of the family that would make me eligible but, I would never, ever consider playing for an Irish national team as I wouldn't be representing my country, I would just feel wrong about it.

Your point is quite valid but as yanno states the difference in your example and being of Moroccan descent and being born in France, belgium or Holland is quite a lot.

Maybe its the difference in culture or religion or whatever it is, but most Moroccans that live abroad always seem to feel more Moroccan than Dutch, French, Belgian (Or English in my case). These countries will always have a lot of migrants moving to their shores for economic reasons. With those migrants come a pool of talented youngsters ready to develop into great player.

On another note Im actually surprised that there havnt been more foreign-origin England players over the last 5 years - but that is another debate

 

[nidge]

nidge - I hear what you're saying, but I think the ability to opt for any of the "British Isles" countries is very different from having radically different inheritances: such as French and Moroccan in Taarabt's case.

As an example, Fredi Kanoute has had a very ambigous relationship with Mali. He was born in Lyon to a French mother and Malian father. As a young man, he considered himself very "French". But, from his public comments, you get a very strong sense that part of Kanoute's reasons for playing for Mali was to embark on a journey of discovery into that part of him that is Malian. Sometimes he liked what he found, sometimes he didn't (he describes somewhere being chased from a Malian stadium in fear for his life after the national team had performed very badly)!!!! But it was part of growing up as a man.

For myself, I was born in London to an English mum and a Polish dad. If I'd been good enough, I would certainly have considered playing for either England or Poland at sport. But playing for Poland would have been more of an "adventure"....

So, as a Spurs fan, I'm irritated at the consequences for the club of Taarabt potentially opting to play for Morocco. However, putting that to one side, if he does opt for Morocco, I'll respect his decision and hope the experience helps him mature as a man. And I'll certainly be cheering if he goes on a Ricky Villa run and sticks one in the net - whether it be for Spurs, France or Morocco!

Your point is quite valid but as yanno states the difference in your example and being of Moroccan descent and being born in France, belgium or Holland is quite a lot.

Maybe its the difference in culture or religion or whatever it is, but most Moroccans that live abroad always seem to feel more Moroccan than Dutch, French, Belgian (Or English in my case). These countries will always have a lot of migrants moving to their shores for economic reasons. With those migrants come a pool of talented youngsters ready to develop into great player.

On another note Im actually surprised that there havnt been more foreign-origin England players over the last 5 years - but that is another debate

Both make your points far more eloquently than I ever do.

You both maybe correct that it is a culture thing that we in the British Isle don't really get. One thing I would like to throw out there is that player born in a european country and have the right to play for Morocco (used purely as an example) what chances would they have had to develop their talent had they been born in Morocco as opposed to Holland, France of Belgium? A bit off topic I know but, my football knowledge outside Europe and a little bit of South American football is poor but, maybe you know more about the sort of talent these countries are producing inside there own borders.

 

[yanno]

One thing I would like to throw out there is that player born in a european country and have the right to play for Morocco (used purely as an example) what chances would they have had to develop their talent had they been born in Morocco as opposed to Holland, France of Belgium? A bit off topic I know but, my football knowledge outside Europe and a little bit of South American football is poor but, maybe you know more about the sort of talent these countries are producing inside there own borders.

I'm sure Locotoro will know more about this than me.

However, my understanding is that many of the famous Ivory Coast players - Zokora, the Toures, Eboue - came out of an Ivorian soccer academy, before being parked at European clubs where they could get EU passports (eg Belgium). So, they had proper coaching in Africa when they were kids.

Ultimately, though, the biggest thing stopping players becoming "great" in their own countries is if their domestic football is not of a very high standard. So, if for instance 90% of the best Ivorian players are in Europe, then any good young Ivorian player needs to move to a European club to develop his talent.

There's also the economics. Players can only earn big money in big leagues. Plus, taking young footballers from Africa to Europe is now a huge international people trafficking business. The story of Jon Obi Mikel, and the various agents who all wanted their cut of his phenomenal talent, is a good example. And for every young player like Mikel who succeeds, there are dozens of sad stories of kids ending up on the streets.

 

[Locotoro]

Quote:
Originally Posted by nidge
One thing I would like to throw out there is that player born in a european country and have the right to play for Morocco (used purely as an example) what chances would they have had to develop their talent had they been born in Morocco as opposed to Holland, France of Belgium? A bit off topic I know but, my football knowledge outside Europe and a little bit of South American football is poor but, maybe you know more about the sort of talent these countries are producing inside there own borders.


There are a few Moroccan National team players who have been developed outside Morocco and in that respect you pose a good question.

As much as you may be right I suppose its all based on a lot of possiblities and variables. Nonetheless it is still a good point