Fadlu Davids: Morocco set standard with Technical Director appointments

SABC Sport visited the Raja Casablanca Academy training centre, and Davids detailed the model of appointing technical directors for all Botola Pro League clubs. 

The FRMF assigns each club a TD to align with its strategy of fostering an environment of excellence within its Mohammed VI Academy, combining twice-daily training, top-class medical follow-ups, and compulsory schooling. 

"Development is the key and the federation has pumped a lot of money into clubs and having technical directors in each club, and having the right budget to be able to facilitate and help these teams," said Davids.

"And, of course, we had one player at the U17 World Cup and he's already been promoted to the first team, and we've now got three players – two 18-year-olds and one 16-year-old now with us – after Covid, a lot of clubs were hit and you have to rely on the youth."

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The TD’s programme started with 57 players, 47 of which turned professional, more than 15 have since moved to top European clubs, while five of those players are in Morocco’s current AFCON squad. 

Davids also shared how the facilities have helped local football development programmes. 

"Yeah, we had Mali that was based and training here at our Raja Academy, and we have coach Riedoh, who was with me at Simba and is now the fitness coach at Mali, so that constant interaction was fantastic to be part of," he added.

"Of course, making a team like Mali come here, use of our facility and feel at home, being able to prepare in a proper way, we're part of the AFCON.

"We had to move out of our facility for a few weeks to give them the first preference so it was fantastic to be part of the AFCON here in Morocco."