Moroccan and French youth handball teams compete in Oujda sports development program

The city of Oujda, Morocco, recently concluded the third edition of a unique sports program designed to empower girls through community development initiatives. Held between July 6 and 12, the program, spearheaded by the Widad Athletic Club of Oujda (WACO), aimed to integrate young women into local development efforts using sports as a primary vehicle.

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This league, according to the organizers, serves as a strategic lever for the Widad Athletic Club, allowing it to train its young players, interact with influential European and African clubs, and expand the club's horizons towards international competitions.

The program's closing day featured an engaging handball tournament at the "Al-Najd" indoor sports hall. This competition brought together female teams from WACO and France's Cannes club, competing in the U15 and U17 categories. The event was designed not only to foster athletic competition but also to enhance tactical understanding, inspire higher performance levels, and promote a valuable exchange between Moroccan and French sporting cultures. It provided a platform for young female athletes to showcase their talents and gain experience in competitive environments.

Nawfal Quraish, the General Director of WACO, highlighted the international dimension of this year's event with the participation of the French team. He praised the noticeable improvement in the technical skills of WACO's players, attributing it to the club's four-year focus on building a strong youth academy. This strategic approach is now yielding competitive results for future challenges.

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This league, which crowned the training week's activities in its third edition, marked a prominent milestone characterized by the transition to an international dimension through hosting the French 'Cannes' team, praising the remarkable development in the technical level of the Oujda club's players.

Beyond the sports field, the program incorporated educational and cultural elements. Language workshops facilitated interaction between Moroccan and French players, while awareness sessions on recycling were held for the players' mothers. Quraish emphasized the club's strong social commitment, providing free sports training to approximately 450 members, many from surrounding neighborhoods. The active involvement of around 50 parent volunteers further underscores the club's role as a vital socio-sports hub for the region.

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The technical management has focused over the past four years on building a solid foundation from the junior categories, with the aim of preparing a strong competitive team for future challenges, a strategic direction that is beginning to bear fruit today.

Hasna Ait Abdellah, the program manager from the French Cannes club, echoed the sentiment of mutual benefit, stating the joint training aimed to exchange sports expertise and foster cultural understanding. The program included technical and physical training, alongside workshops in theater and recreational games to develop communication skills. This initiative is part of a three-year partnership agreement between the two clubs, which gained new dynamism with the active participation of the French players this year.

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The social dimension remains a strength of the club, which provides free sports training to about 450 members, most of whom come from neighboring neighborhoods.