Morocco will scout even more intensively in the Netherlands: ‘This success is oxygen for our approach’ | 2022 football world cup

Van Puyvelde worked at Heerenveen from 2008 to 2009, as the right-hand man of the Norwegian trainer Trond Sollied. In Belgium, as technical director, he was closely involved in the success of the Red Devils under coach Roberto Martinez and after four years in China, the 63-year-old Belgian has been technical director of the Moroccan Football Association since the summer.

“This success means oxygen for our long-term approach to Moroccan football,” says Van Puyvelde, who has to stay in his hotel room with a corona infection. “This is a breeding ground for what we all want to achieve with Morocco.”

That means reaching the final of the World Cup in the short term, but in the long term making Moroccan football stronger than ever. ,,We are going to intensify scouting in Europe”, says Van Puyvelde, who emphasizes that the current success must be attributed to national coach Walid Regragui and that he likes to work in the shadows with a view to the future. “Yes, also in the Netherlands and Belgium. But we also want to move forward in Morocco itself. There are academies and more to come. There is huge potential, football is already very big in Morocco.”

Becoming the strongest country in Africa in the field of football is a realistic goal, according to Van Puyvelde. Especially when the final of the World Cup is within reach. ,,Four years ago I was with Belgium in the semi-final of the World Cup against France and now with Morocco. What Regragui has achieved is fantastic. He had three months, but in that period he visited all players all over Europe and Morocco to speak to them personally.

,,And you are now asking about the families that are so close to the team. They are in a separate hotel, but are often welcome by the players and trainers. I knew that from my time with the Belgian team, but this all comes from Regragui. He knows that Morocco is one big family. They do it for their grandparents and fathers and mothers. That gives strength. So they involve everyone. I feel that something is happening in the African countries and in the Arab world. Morocco makes it clear this World Cup that the differences in the football world have become small. Other countries see that it is possible.”

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