A professional footballer’s life circulates travelling across cities and towns, both in his country of birth and internationally.
Home games, away games, pre-season tours, and ambassadorial assignments, are a few of the work-to-do moments that explains the daily life of a talented sportsman.
One of such great personalities filled with finesse and valour, moving around North Africa is Ghana’s Kwame Opoku.
After announcing his goal-poaching abilities in the top-flight of Ghana football with Asante Kotoko, the forward made the trip to Algerian giants USM Algiers in 2021.
Opoku had a bright start to life but battled injuries in his second season with USMA and opted for a loan deal to Saudi Arabian side Najran SC.
Then from the second tier of Saudi football, the 23-year-old joined Olympique Cloube de Khourigba.
Opoku perfectly describes the life of a travelling footballer who gets exposed to different cultures, systems and comfortable settings.
And in Morocco, the 23-year-old feels pleased with the facilities scattered around the few towns and cities he has made trips to.
“In terms of infrastructure, Morocco is very well-developed. In the other countries I have played some of the pitches use astroturf.
“Almost all the clubs here have their stadium which has natural pitches and the training facilities are really good here,” Kwame told Footy-Ghana in an interview.
“If I look at Morocco, they are one of the few African countries that can host the World Cup because they have more than 30 pitches.
“They have already invested in infrastructure and so if they are given the chance I think they are fully prepared and ready for any major tournament.”
For football fans, global competitions provide the right gateway to explore the world’s natural sites and the amazing aesthetics they yearn for.
And Morocco is one such African nation with a lot to tour.
Morocco off the pitch
The beautiful sites in Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakesh and other cities, will excite the world’s travelling contingent ready to come to Africa for the World Cup since South Africa in 2010.
The Atlas Mountains, Agafay Dessert and the Ouzoud Waterfalls provide the natural feel of Arabian life.
Kwame has a bright smile as he delves into the local food culture and the delight of international cuisines from the nationals.
A “couscous” is usually his first choice of dish and he loves tagine too. For potato lovers, the Makouda is the best chance of enjoying street food.
A football-crazy nation
On the fan atmosphere, the former Kotoko striker is right at the edge of his seat and talks passionately.
“At first I thought Ghanaian fans were passionate about football till I came to Morocco. Since I moved here, I realised Moroccans love football extremely.
“At my club Olympique Khouribga, we take long flights to away games to still meet our fans at the stadium.”
“And the tifos are just mesmerizing. It sends chills down your veins and that’s when you know you are witnessing a great football environment.
Kwame continues: “When the national team plays you can see the support from social media and even on the streets.
“Football in Morocco is currently very good. You can see it from their facilities and how they’re branding their national team and the clubs.
“Also, there’s a lot of hard work to ensure that Moroccan football keeps developing.”
The North Africans will host the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in June and the 2024 Women’s Afcon.
Furthermore, Morocco earlier hosted the 2022 Fifa Club World Cup which brought the best teams around the globe.
