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Early years (1949–56)

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Football in Casablanca

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At the dawn of the 20th century, football began to develop in Morocco, and more precisely in Casablanca. Several clubs were founed in the city after the establishment of the French protectorate in 1912, such as Union Sportive Marocaine [fr] (1913), Racing Athletic Club (1917), or Union Sportive Athlétique [fr] (1920). However, certain clubs existed way before such as the Club Athlétique Marocain [fr] founded in 1902 or the Olympique de Casablanca created in 1904. In 1922, Morocco saw the creation of its first sports federation responsible for organizing football competitions on its territory; the Moroccan Football League Association. Under the aegis of the French Football Federation (FFF), it became a member of FIFA in 1922 and a member of the Union of North African Leagues [fr] (ULNAF) in 1926.

At the end of the 1940s in Derb Sultan, a working-class district of Casablanca where the resistance against French colonization was very active, there was no football team that competed with the national elite. Among a group of Moroccan nationalists and trade unionists, including Mahjoub Ben Seddik [fr], founder and historic leader of the Moroccan Workers' Union (UMT), and Maâti Bouabid, who would go one to become the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of Morocco.[1], an idea emerged which was to create a club to regroup the best players scattered in the small amateur teams in Derb Sultan, such as Al-Fath or Al-Nassr, based respectively in Derb Kabir and Derb Bouchentouf.[2] To convince these teams to come together and prepare for the creation of the club, meetings took place over several months at the Al Watan café, the Bouya Saleh café (which still exist today) and at the contract drafting office of Hajji Ben Abadji [fr].[3]

Foundation

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During the evening of 19 March 1949, the founders met to finalize the establishment of their club. However, they emphasize the need for the club to be independent of any colonial influence, since France regulated the creation of sports clubs by prohibiting the presidency of a Moroccan club to a Moroccan citizen. The Algerian Nabi Errayhani had the idea of getting over this law by giving the president chair to Hajji Ben Abadji [fr], an Algerian native of Tlemcen who had French nationality. The colonial authorities, taken by surprise, were thus forced to accept. At the same time, Moulay Sassi Aboudarka Alaoui was appointed honorary president of the club.

Raja Club Athletic was officially fonded on 20 March 1949 at the Bouya Saleh café, n. 80 Al Abassiyine Street, Derb Sultan.[4] Several intellectuals and resistance fighters who met at Hmidou El Watani's Al Watan café were the founding members: Boujemâa Kadri, Haddaoui El Nejjar, Tibari, Ahmed Skalli, Mohamed Daoudi, Badr Daoudi, Nabi Errayhani, Laâchfoubi El Bouazzaoui, Abdellah Naoui and his brother Mohamed Naoui [fr].[5]

The founders first decided to name the club Fath, but this name was refused by the authorities who claimed that Fath Union Sports, based in Rabat, already took that name. They then agree on the name Raja, which was ultimately approved. They also choose the eagle as a symbol and, green, color of Islam, as their main color. Some time later, they moved their headquarters to the Kallouti district, n°122 5th street, Derb Sultan.

First steps

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Haimond
Mohamed Daoudi
Mbarek Mangala
Belaid
Sihamid
Hamid
Mustapha
Timblo
Filali
Mohamed Naoui
Abyad Weld Sbaiya
First match in North African Cup
US Fes 5–2 Raja CA
15 October 1950, Stade Mohammed-V (Fez)

The squad was then made up exclusively of Moroccan players, most of whom came from Derb Sultan. The first foreign player was the French goalkeeper Pierre Macquet who was recruited in 1951 by Mekki Laâraj, after completing his military service. Raja played its home matches at L'hwiyet (which means pony wall), because of the low walls that were surrounding the pitch located on 2 Mars Avenue. The club played friendly games only during a year before receiving affiliation with the Moroccan League Association in the summer of 1950, allowing it to join the national leagues.

On 15 July 1950, Mohamed Naoui received his coaching license and became the first coach in the club's history. He was considered as one of the best forwards in Moroccan football before 1956 wearing the jersey of many clubs and the LMFA Moroccan national team [fr].


On 17 September, Raja made their international debut against AS Ben Ahmed in the 1950–51 North African Cup qualifying rounds and won by forfeit. The opposing team did not show up in Casablanca on the day of the match.[6]

Raja CA starts their national campaign within the Chaouia-Nord Group of the Second Division (or Casablanca Group), the fourth level of Moroccan football. Exempted from the first game scheduled on 1st October 1950 (due to the fact that the group only had seven teams), the Greens entered the competition on 8 October against AS Police Casablanca. On 15 October, Raja lost in the second round of the North African Cup against the Union sportif de Fez (5–2).[7] The starting line-up was; Haimond, Belaid, Mohamed Daoudi, Mbarek Mangala, Sihamid, Hamid, Mohamed Naoui, Mustapha, Filali, Timblo and Abyad Weld Sbaiya who scored the two goals.

On 8 April 1951, after beating AS Boulhaut (Benslimane) at Stade l'Hermitage, Raja secured top position of the league and therefore promotion to the First Division.[8] On 23 September, the Greens hosted JSM Oujda in their new league debut. A week later, on 30 September, Raja was narrowly eliminated from the 1951–52 North African Cup after its defeat against AS Amal Essouira after extra time (3–2).[9] The general assembly of November 1951 appointed Mohamed Naoui as sporting director and replaced him with Abdelkader Megdoul Djellal.

Raja CA board after the November 1951 general assembly[10]
President Hajji Ben Abadji [fr]
Honorary presidents Hadj Mohammed ben Hadj Abbès
Mohamed Badji
Vice presidents Mohamed Maâti Bouabid
Laâchfoubi El Bouazzaoui
Ahmed Skalli
Secretary general Nabi Errayhani
Bensalem
Treasurers Mustapha
Mahjoub
Sporting director Mohamed Naoui [fr]
Manager Abdelkader Megdoul Djellal
Board members Lachemi - Chebeb - Driss Lahcen - Abderrahmane
Azerkane - Ziani - Abdellah Naoui - Hadj Ahmed - Brahim

On 11 May 1952, Raja played their final game of the season against KAC Marrakech to pick a winner while the two were assured of promotion (2–0 loss)[11]. Thanks to a group of talented players such as Mohamed Roudani, first captain in the team's history[12], Hamid Bahij [fr][13] and Moussa Hanoun [fr][14], Raja achieved promotion to Division Pré-Honneur, the 2nd level of national football. On 7 September, they lost their debut match against Idéal Club Marocain [fr] (2–1).[15]

On 26 October, the Greens faced US Safi in the 2nd round of the 1952–53 North African Cup. After an extra time 2–2 draw (goals of Mustapha and M'hamed), Raja won in Safi (2–1) to face Union Sportive Marocaine [fr], the best team of the colonial era and composed mainly of French players.[16][17][18] On 16 November, Raja were loosing before Laïdi equalized in the 75th minute (1–1).[19] Abdelkader Megdoul lined up the following eleven: Bensaïd, Bettache, Filali, Djillali, Roudani, Mestassi, Laïdi, Ahmed Ben Salah, Omar, Sbaiya and Belaïd.[20] The match was replayed on 21 December at the Stade Philip and tilted in favor of the hosts (5–0).[21] During the 1953–54 season, Raja beat USTO in the first round of the North African Cup but lost to Sporting athlétique de Marrakech [fr], the reigning Moroccan champion. At the end of the season, Raja did not manage to gain promotion.

In 1954, Abdelkader Jalal [fr], an emblematic figure in the club's history and who had already held the position of technical director since 1950, succeeded Mohamed Naoui as coach and took charge of youth development. Nicknamed “the educator of generations”, he was at the origin of the accession of several generations of players, until his retirement after an accident that occurred on 23 May 1989, that cost him his left hand.[22] On 28 November 1954, Raja was eliminated from the 1954–55 North African Cup against Racing AC (2–0 loss).[23]

At the beginning of August 1955, the Moroccan Football League Association announced that the national championships would begin on 4 September. On 31 August, the French resident-general, in agreement with the League, decided to postpone the starting date. This decision was caused by the clubs protest after the promotion of US Safi to the First Division without playing any playoffs against Maghreb AS; both sides were in tie.

 

Benjilali
Mohamed Roudani
Mustapha Milazzo
Bouchaib
Ahmed Bettache
Mustapha
Hamid Bahij
Moussa Hanoun
Mohamed Naoui
Abyad Weld Sbaiya
Abderrahmane Acila
Final match of Botola's playoffs
Raja CA 7–0 Olympique Ouazzane
7 October 1956, Stade Philip (Att: 8000)

On 2 November 1955, Raja lost to Maghreb Sportif de Rabat [fr] (2–0) in the 2nd round of the 1955–56 North African Cup, the twentieth and last edition which would not be completed.[24] On 4 December, they beat MS Rabat back 4–0 in the criterium that replaced the championship.

Debut after independence (1956–64)

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First division playoffs and Père Jégo's arrival

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After the cease of the national leagues in 1955, a critérium (tournament) replaced them to ensure football's continuity. But political unrest followed by the official declaration of independence in 2 March 1956 led to the cancellation of this competition as well.[25] The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was then created to replace the Moroccan Football League Association.[26] For its first season, the FRMF received the affiliations of 310 clubs and 6087 players.[27] Raja therefore starts the 1956–57 season with FRMF-organized play-offs. Each group consisted of four teams and only the leaders would access the 16-team elite division. Maâti Bouabid appointed former Wydad coach Kacem Kacemi to lead the team through the playoffs.

The draw placed Raja with KSNAC Casablanca, Union sportif Ben Ahmed and Olympique de Ouezzane, that had just played the North African Cup quarter-finals. Raja successively beats KSNAC (4–1) and US Ben Ahmed (2–0, Moussa Hanoun [fr] and Abderrahmane Acila goals). On 7 October 1956, Raja hosted Olympique Ouezzane at Stade Philip in front of 8000 fans for the decisive match. Thanks to two braces of Hamid Bahij [fr] and Moussa Hanoun, Raja crushed their opponents 7–1 and became the first team to qualify since the match was played at 8:30 a.m, establishing itself as one of the founding members of Botola. This match was also counted as the first round of the Throne Cup. This new competition quickly gained great prestige since it represents the Alaouite Dynasty and whose trophy is handed over by a member of the royal family. After the playoffs, Kacem Kacemi left and Laâchfoubi El Bouazzaoui succeeded to Hajji Ben Abadji as president.

 
Père Jégo, always with his tarboosh, is decorated here by King Mohammed V as a Raja coach

In December 1956, after a brief interim of Abdelkader Jalal, Raja engaged the man who would influence its destiny and shape its identity; Affani Mohamed Ben Lahcen alias Père Jégo. He was the first Moroccan to get a football coaching licence and founder of Wydad AC's football section, he was pushed out by the players and the board for mysterious reasons.[28][29]

After playing a pragmatic style with Wydad that he developed during his travels to England, Père Jégo inculcated in Raja a different system, inspired by South American football. Raja's style consisted of movement and short passes, and was more focused on spectacle, sometimes even to the detriment of results, giving the players the opportunity to display their skills. The fans nicknamed their team Raja L'fraja (Raja the show in Arabic)

Opened in 1955 under the name Stade Marcel-Cerdan, Stade Mohammed-V (named Stade d'honneur until 1983) became the main home ground of Raja, Wydad and the Moroccan national team in 1957.

Botola debut

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In order to prepare for its first elite-season, Raja played several friendly matches and tournaments. On 15 February 1956, they beat Sporting des Roches Noires [fr] 2–0 in the semi-final of the 1956 Coupe de Casablanca [fr], but political trouble forced the postponement of the final. After the independence, they played the final on 7 April against Tihad AS and lost 3–1. The Coupe d'ouverture de la saison [fr] was organized just before the start of the season. On 31 August 1956, Raja lost to ASPTT Casablanca [fr] (2–2) because the tournament rules gave the advantage to the side with most corners in the case of a draw, and won the third place play-off against Tihad AS (4–2).

On 10 November 1956, Raja played its first match in the 16-team Botola, and lost to Fath Union Sports (2–0), but the team recovered on the next match and won on 17 November against Sporting des Roches Noires [fr] thanks to two goals of Ahmed Naoui and Hamid Bahij who became the first goalscorer of the club in Botola.[30] On 10 February 1957, the first Casablanca Derby took place at Stade Philip against Wydad, which was already intense because of Père Jégo's relation with his former club that sacked him. Raja won 1–0, courtesy of an Mohamed Laâchir El Ouejdi goal, who scored a long shot in Mohamed Rifki's net.[31]

"The physiological capacities of Moroccans are closer to those of South Americans than to Europeans. It is therefore more logical to take inspiration from it."

— Père Jégo[32]

For its first season among the elite, the team finished tenth and exited from the Throne Cup in the second round against Kawkab of Marrakech in a replay (1–0), after a 2–2 draw. Raja's top scorers were Abderrahmane Acila and Hamid Bahij, netting 11 and 5 goals respectively.[33][34]. Meanwhile, Raja took over the Aviation Complex after the dissolution of US Marocaine, and was named the Raja-Oasis Sports Complex. It was chosen to be the first team training center and the main youth academy. Up until this moment Raja did not have an established home ground, they used stadiums such as L'hwiyet, Stade Jrid or Stade de la Jeunesse. The club's headquarters were located in Grigouane district, no. 122 5th street, Derb Sultan.

In the 1957–58 season, the club finished fourth and failed to make it past the Throne Cup's second round.[35] The following season, Raja were leading midway through the league after a 13-match unbeaten run (it's called being a autumn champion in Morocco), but failed to keep their pace and finished fourth. The team reached the semi-finals of the Cup for the first time, a draw against MC Oujda forced the two teams to replay the fixture which favored the Orientals 3–0.[36]

Usurped title

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Raja team that won the first Derby at Stade Philip in 1957. Standing from right to left: Mohamed, Bouchaib, Pierre Maquet, Roudani, Benâacher, El Ouejdi, Père Jégo. Seated from right to left: P'tit Ahmed, Milazzo, Acila, Moussa, Mangala.

During the 1959 summer, Raja CA won the Cherkaoui Cup after beating Racing AC in the semi-final (1–0), and Étoile de Casablanca that eliminated Wydad, in a 2–1 victory thanks to two goals of Mohamed Bhaija [fr] and Moussa Hanoun [fr].[37][38]

At the end of the 1959–60 season, which was interrupted by the 1960 Agadir earthquake[39], a major controversy broke out after the FRMF decided to organize playoffs between the leading trio which were tied on points, while Raja was in fact leading due to their better goal difference. The club protested against this decision deemed unfair and refused to take part in it, the playoff was thus played between Kénitra AC and AS FAR, which was actively supported by Crown Prince Hassan II.[40] The latter won the title and Raja was relegated to third position. Moussa Hanoun finished as Botola's top scorer with 22 goals, a club record. In the Throne Cup, the team lost again in the semi-finals against Fath Union Sport, in the same scenario as the previous season (0–0; 2–3 in replay).[41]

Raja finished fifth in 1960–61 and did not manage to reach the Throne Cup's quarter-final.[42] The effects of the stolen title are still felt as the club had a modest 1960–61 campaign, finishing seventh and exiting from the Cup in the second round.[43]

On 1st November 1962 at 20 August 1955 Stadium of Algiers, Raja won the Ahmed Ben Bella Tournament after beating USM Algiers thanks to two goals from Mohamed Bhaïja and Hamid Bahij (2–0).[44] At the end of the 1962–63 season, the team finished in the third position and was eliminated of the Throne Cup's quarter-final.[45]The following season, the Greens finished ninth and reached the semi-final of the Cup for the third time, but lost the replay against Wydad (0–1) after the first fixture ended in a 0–0 draw.[46]

References

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  1. ^ "Histoire Du Football Au Maroc – FRMF" (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |brisé le= ignored (help).
  2. ^ "[Série] Pouvoir et ballon rond, quand le football s'invite en politique – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-08-08..
  3. ^ "الرجاء العالمي ..تاريخ قلعة النسور". كازا 24 (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-02-19..
  4. ^ "نادي الرجاء الرياضي | الموقع الرسمي". rajaclubathletic.ma. Retrieved 2019-06-02..
  5. ^ ""عبد القادر جلال" مربي الأجيال الذي ساهم بالغالي والنفيس للنهوض بالكرة الوطنية". Le7tv.ma (in Arabic). 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2022-02-04..
  6. ^ [[L'Écho d'Alger]]. 3 12 1950. Retrieved 21 July 2021. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  7. ^ "Emperor Archive - أرشيف الإمبراطور - نتائج الجولة الثانية من الدور الإقصائي دكأس الكؤوس الشمال إفريقي : Idéal CM 6-0 Hilal AN SCC Roches Noires 5-0 Kénitra AC Fédala SC 2-1 ASPTT Marrakech AS Rabat 2-0 CA Berrchid US Rabat 3-0 US Petit-jean KAC Marrakech 0-0 MAS Fès OM Rabat 7-0 AS Berkane AS Salé 1-0 AS Mazagan ER Oujda 1-0 MS Rabat Fath US 4-1 ASPTT Fès US Fès 5-0 Radjah CA ASJM Casa 2-1 US Oujda | Facebook". facebook.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-14..
  8. ^ "Le Petit Marocain". Gallica (in French). 1952-03-21. Retrieved 2023-03-28..
  9. ^ [[L'Écho d'Oran]]. 2 12 1951. Retrieved 21 July 2021. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  10. ^ "Le Petit Marocain". Gallica (in French). 1951-11-10. Retrieved 2023-04-04..
  11. ^ "Le Petit Marocain". Gallica (in French). 1952-05-12. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  12. ^ Matin, Le. "Ancien international du Raja de Casablanca : Mohamed Abou Choukri (Roudani) n'est plus". Le Matin. Retrieved 2019-06-28..
  13. ^ Matin, Le. "Hamid Bahij, l'artiste du milieu". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 2019-06-28..
  14. ^ Matin, Le. "Hanoun Moussa, un buteur-né". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 2019-06-28..
  15. ^ "Le Petit Marocain". Gallica (in French). 1952-09-08. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  16. ^ "Le Petit Marocain". Gallica (in French). 1952-10-27. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  17. ^ Article ([[Special:EditPage/{{{1}}}|edit]] | [[Talk:{{{1}}}|talk]] | [[Special:PageHistory/{{{1}}}|history]] | [[Special:ProtectPage/{{{1}}}|protect]] | [[Special:DeletePage/{{{1}}}|delete]] | [{{fullurl:Special:WhatLinksHere/{{{1}}}|limit=999}} links] | [{{fullurl:{{{1}}}|action=watch}} watch] | logs | views)
  18. ^ "Le Petit Marocain". Gallica (in French). 1952-11-07. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  19. ^ "Le Petit Marocain". Gallica (in French). 1952-11-17. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  20. ^ "Le Petit Marocain". Gallica (in French). 1952-12-20. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  21. ^ [[L'Écho d'Oran]]. 16 11 1952. Retrieved 21 July 2021. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  22. ^ ""عبد القادر جلال" مربي الأجيال الذي ساهم بالغالي والنفيس للنهوض بالكرة الوطنية". Le7tv.ma (in Arabic). 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  23. ^ [[L'Écho d'Oran]]. 5 12 1954. Retrieved 14 August 2021. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  24. ^ [[L'Écho d'Oran]]. 13 11 1955. Retrieved 14 August 2021. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  25. ^ "2 mars 1956 - Indépendance du Maroc - Herodote.net". www.herodote.net. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  26. ^ "Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  27. ^ "Le football au Maroc". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  28. ^ ""الأب جيكو " صحفي رياضي مثقف ومبدع و أول مغربي يتوفر على دبلوم مدرب". web.archive.org. 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2021-02-19..
  29. ^ Hachlaf, Mohammed Hamza. "Du Wydad au Raja, 5 choses à savoir sur le Père Jégo , H24info". h24info.ma (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-20..
  30. ^ MATIN, LE. "Le Matin - Hamid Bahij, l'artiste du milieu". Le Matin. Retrieved 2019-06-28..
  31. ^ "Raja-Wydad 1956/1957, le premier derby du reste de leur vie". Telquel.ma. Retrieved 2021-02-22..
  32. ^ [dead link]
  33. ^ José Batalha. "Morocco 1956/57". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  34. ^ "1956/1957". mfa.forumfree.it. Retrieved 2021-09-13..
  35. ^ José Batalha. "Morocco 1957/58". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  36. ^ José Batalha. "Morocco 1958/59". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  37. ^ "Tournoi feu Cherkaoui 1957". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-01-21..
  38. ^ "Coupe Cherkaoui". mfa.forumfree.it. Retrieved 2022-02-28..
  39. ^ "محطات تاريخية شهدت إيقاف الدوري الاحترافي قبل "كورونا"". سبورت Le360 (in Arabic). 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2021-02-23..
  40. ^ "Dieu, la patrie, Hassan II et le foot". Telquel.ma (in French). Retrieved 2022-08-25..
  41. ^ José Batalha. "Morocco 1959/60". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  42. ^ José Batalha. "Morocco 1960/61". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  43. ^ José Batalha. "Morocco 1961/62". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  44. ^ Hakim El Ghzaoui (23 September 2021). L’épopée du Raja… les sentiers de la gloire (in Francais/arabe). Casablanca: Hakim El Ghzaoui. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |pages totales= ignored (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  45. ^ José Batalha. "Morocco 1962/63". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
  46. ^ José Batalha. "Morocco 1963/64". Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |editeur= ignored (help).
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