MarocProfs win in fundraiser for earthquake victims
2 (1) - 3 (0)
Friendly
Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam
Wednesday, 21 April, 2004
The most important thing about the friendly fixture between
Ajax and the 'MarocProfs' (a special team of Moroccan
professionals, mainly from the Dutch Eredivisie) was not the
final score. The most imporant thing was, quite obviously, the
sum of money raised for emergency aid to the victims of the 24
February earthquakes in northern Morocco, around the town of Al
Houceima. The game, in a way, had two 'results: 2-3
to Moroccans and 201,000 euros for the victims in the
Al Houceima area.
Nourdin Boukhari, in the green
shirt of the MarocProfs, playing
against his former Ajax team-mates. [Photo:
Ajax.nl]
The earthquakes had a devastating
effect: 629 people were killed instantly. Also, 2,630 houses
were totally destroyed, making 15,230 people homeless. These
people need help. The international Red Cross stated that
emergency aid is only slowly coming into its stride and that
the situation is still grinding.
The MarocProfs team is an
initiative by several prominent Dutch Moroccans. Numerous
Moroccan players from Dutch Eredivisie teams were
happy to contribute by playing a friendly fixture against Ajax,
which was attended by 14,000 spectators, mainly from the large
Moroccan community in The Netherlands in general and Amsterdam
in particular. The MarocProfs team was coached by RKC Waalwijk
boss Martin Jol.
Ajax coach Ronald Koeman rested
Rafaël van der Vaart, but otherwise fielded a remarkably
strong team. The Amsterdammers took the lead on a hard Pienaar
shot in the 19th minute, but saw the Moroccans win in the
second half, in front of 14,000 roaring, ecstatic countrymen in
the stands.
The two teams on the pitch
after the break were totally different from those in the first
half. Nourdin Boukhari (playing for NAC Breda, but
still on an Ajax contract) and Young Ajax striker Jamal Akachar
were brought on for the Moroccans, whereas Ajax had a few
noteworthy substitutions as well: two of Ajax's Belgians,
Tom Soetaers and Wesley Sonck, returned from their respective
injuries, whereas Young Ajax's Jerold Promes and Rasmus
Lindgren made their (unofficial) first team
débuts.
The second goal of the night was an Ajax production, but was
in fact the equalizer for the Moroccans: Nourdin Boukhari
launched Akachar with a thru-pass. His shot was deflected into
his own netting by Julien Escudé: 1-1 (58').
As NAC Breda's Ali Boussaboun volleyed a Diba cross past
Maarten Stekelenburg less than three minutes later, the
Moroccan fans on the stands celebrated as if the World Cup was
in the bag.
Wesley Sonck, meanwhile, had a succesful return to
competitive action. The Belgian played well and netted twice.
His frist strike was disallowed by referee Jol, but the second
one counted and brought Ajax back to 2-2 (72'). However, the
last goal of the night was for the MarocProfs - and maybe it
had to be that way. What a fine goal it was. Promes and
Escudé hesitated near the middle line, but Ali
Boussaboun did not: he picked up the ball and saw
Stekelenburg standing a few yards in front of his goal.
Boussaboun's beautiful chip landed against the Ajax netting and
set the crowd on fire: 3-2.
Jubilant Moroccan fans invade the
ArenA pitch after the match. [Photo: AFS]
Salient detail with the violent
pitch invasion at De Toekomst still fresh on
everyone's minds: after Jol's final whistle the pitch was
invaded by young Moroccan supporters. Both Ajax and the
Amsterdam police stated that there were no violent
intentions whatsoever and that the fans left the pitch
peacefully. Dutch press agency ANP and NOS Teletekst, on the
other hand, reported the next morning that boarding, corner
flags and other items were destroyed by the
youngsters.
Nourdin Boukhari, whom Ajax wants to sell during the
summer, said after the game: "It was a nice moment to
score a goal with this Moroccan team in the ArenA, although I
was wearing a different jersey than I would have expected not
too long ago. I had a fantastic night. I think I constantly
heard Moroccan music from the stands. The supporters made more
noise than the ArenA crowd usually does. That's typical
Moroccan."
In spite of the defeat, Wesley Sonck was a satisfied man
also: "This was the first time for me to play for 45 minutes
without any pain. That's important. And I played well. I was
kind of playing between the lines. (...) I think the people saw
an enjoyable game. The MarocProfs were good, skillful players.
They took us on - and we were happy to let them do so in a game
like this."
Back to business now. Ajax has three more days to prepare
for the away game at NEC in Nijmegen on Sunday. If PSV drops
points against RBC Roosendaal on Saturday night, the Dutch
championship of 2004 can be clinched by Ajax the next day.
(MP)
Source: Ajax.nl
GOALS
Referee: Jol
Cards: none
Attendance: 14,000
Ajax line-up:
Stekelenburg; Obodai (46. De Jong), Heitinga (46. Promes),
Escudé, Van Damme; Pienaar (46. Lindgren),
Galásek (46. Yakubu), Sneijder (46. Sonck); De Ridder,
Ibrahimovic (46. Anastasiou), Sikora (46. Soetaers).
MarocProfs
line-up: Sinouh (46. Benlahsen); Allach (46.
Boukhari), Bakkati (46. Hadouir), Boulahrouz, El Akchaoui;
Barakat, Diba (74. Bakkati), Mokhtari (37. Mariana); Ramzi (46.
Akachar), Boussaboun, Sektioui.
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