HIBAPRESS – Oujda
A football and political debate has recently escalated in the city of Oujda, following statements by some local elected officials and a candidate on a local list during a rally attended by Fouzi Lekjaa, which reduced the city's football scene to a single entity, angering the components and base of the Wajda Islamic Sports Union (USMO).
According to the official spokesperson and Secretary-General of the club, Yahya Al-Alami, he confirmed that all components of the club believe that football in the Eastern region has never been a one-color affair. The city hosts two football poles active in the Second National Division: Mouloudia Oujda and Wajda Islamic Sports Union. Each has a rich record in serving national sports and nurturing generations, despite the disparity in financial capabilities.
He explained that ignoring the history of the Union and its journey, which today includes hundreds of male and female practitioners across various categories, is an unfair reduction of the sporting pluralism that characterizes the capital of the East.
He also affirmed that the club is going through a pivotal stage that requires fairness, not marginalization, stressing that the team's management and components are committed to the club's rightful claim to support and official attention. He added that it represents a wide segment of Oujda's families and youth, and its historical and sporting role in the city cannot be ignored.
The position of the Union club, Al-Alami added, is based on a clear vision that does not aim to compare or usurp the position of any other club:
– Respect for symbolism: Mouloudia Oujda has its respected position and history, and the Union also has its history, men, and fan base.
– Media and institutional fairness: Demanding fair representation of the Union in local sports affairs and a presence befitting its societal role.
– Neutrality and appreciation: Valuing the stance of the Wali of the Eastern region and his continuous support for the club, while keeping him completely away from this political debate.
Finally, the official spokesperson of the USMO club sends a message to the councils of elected officials who only remember clubs on occasion. Wajda's sports scene is too great to be reduced to a narrow vision, and the Wajda Islamic Sports Union has never been a fleeting team; rather, it is an integral part of the city's memory, its present, and its future. The club does not seek to take anyone's place but only demands to reclaim its natural place on the map of support, appreciation, and official representation.
