Moroccan Female Teen Soccer Players: Soccer Playing and Life Skills

learning to be leaders, and meeting with their American contemporaries. Their fast paced program included five soccer clinics organized by U.S. Mens National Team coach Jay Miller and Washington Freedoms Clive Watson. Jay Miller and former Womens National Team Member, Lorrie Fair, served as Sports Envoys to Morocco last spring. Mr. Miller jumped at the chance to continue to work with the Moroccan girls. Another highlight for the group was the opportunity to meet and speak with girls their own age. From practicing with the D.C. Stoddert U-15 travel team and Arlington U-15 recreation team to meeting with a group of 15 and 16 year old International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma female students at Banneker. The group was engaged in a variety of lively discussions. Many of the young Moroccan girls were stunned by the diversity of the people they met and pleased to see Muslims accepted everywhere as equals. Beyond the soccer clinics and meetings, the group had a range of cultural experiences that included visiting Mt. Vernon, touring the U.S. Capitol and the Mall as well as going to see the National Aquarium Baltimore. The group also attended a World Cup qualifier between the U.S. Mens National Team and Cuba as well as a match between the University of Maryland and University of Virginia Womens teams. Coach Halima Berrad remarked the values that Americans cherish are the same ones that my religion teaches. A reception and a fundraiser was hosted by the Washington Moroccan Club. Community members welcomed the Moroccan Soccer teens and presented them with a lot of encouragements and small gifts. The Soccer Girls are: • Khadija Rajimi • Hasnaa Al Bouguedraoui • Safae Ech-Chiri • Meryeme Bouchaya • Loubna Hakam • Naoual Zerouali • Nadia Babekri • Hajar Babour • Khadija Ed Dahbi • Wijdane Erradouani The Coaches: • Fatima Aouam • Halima Berrad Thanks to those that made this event possible • Hosts: The Saout Family • The Washington Moroccan Club • The Moroccan America Center • Mary V. Jeffers Counselor for Press and Cultural Affairs / American Embassy • Mitchell Cohn Cultural Affairs Officer / American Embassy • Ms. Beverly Attalah Director of Center for International Exchanges Special Thanks to Ms. Touria bernoussi Dr. Nouredine Gawgaw Mr. Adbessamad hairy Ms. Aicha Afifi Ms. Fatima Zahra Kurtz Ms. Fatima Zahra Maliki & Association Injaz Ms. Faiza Mehdi Mr. Amal Abdelkader Mr. Nacir Assaadi Mr. Mohamed Benjelloun Ms. Fatima Ezzahra Rachidi Mr. & Mrs. M. Said El Ouafi Mr. Abdellah Benkirane Ms. Aicha Bensaid Mr. Mohamed Belkhyat & Mrs. Jackie McCarthy Mr. Khalid Lhaggazi Ms. Ellen Hunt Mr. Rehan & Mrs. Fouzia Dawer Mr. Hicham Belmamoun for more coverage visit moroccoboard.com http://www.moroccoboard.comshow less...