Legendary former Dynamos striker Edward Sadomba says “Moroccan football has grown tremendously, matching some of the European standards technically and financially”.
The North African country has a team in both the Caf Confederation Cup and Caf Champions League finals this year. In recent years, their teams have done well in Caf competitions.
Wydad Casablanca will face Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly in the final set for May 30 while RS Berkane take on Orlando Pirates on Friday. Sadomba, arguably Zimbabwe’s most successful footballer in African club competitions, believes the progress Morocco has made is not by chance.
The former Al Hilal forward counts the 2011 Caf Champions League top scorer award among his many milestones and the same accolade in the Confederations Cup in 2012.
“Morocco has injected millions of dollars in football development, and the results show now,” Sadomba explained. He noted that in 2020, the country achieved a historic feat, providing four semifinalists in the Caf Champions League and Confederations Cup.
Raja Casablanca and Wydad Athletic Club were in the Champions League semis, while Hassania of Agadir and RS Berkane faced off in the Confederations Cup semis. RS Berkane eventually won the Confederation Cup that year.
Sadomba, who also had a stint in Libya, faced North African clubs several times but singled out a 2011 encounter against Raja Casablanca as his most memorable.
“I remember during my time at Al-Hilal, playing against Raja Casablanca in Morocco. The stadium was full with about 60 000 fans painting the stadium green and white. It was such an atmosphere,” he said. Qatar-based football analyst Amine Ammor concurred with Sadomba, adding that competing in Africa will help improve the game in Morocco.
“It’s a step in the right direction for Moroccan football. It’s great to see we develop a culture of having more than one team in these African competitions. I believe competing at the highest level will go a long way in improving our football,” said Namor.
Sadomba retired from football in 2019 and currently runs the Edward Sadomba Foundation, which offers scholarships to learners in Zimbabwe and helps the elderly.
