“There was an incident where a journalist said they’d spoken to my dad after a game. It was an honest mistake, but it was still a really unpleasant experience – and one I never wanted to go through again.”
VERSUS: Was it instinctive – did you always know deep down you’d represent Morocco one day?
RA: Morocco had contacted me a year or two ago when they had a different coach, and I spoke to them on the phone but it just didn’t feel right at the time. I’d also always known how emotionally sensitive I had to be about playing for Morocco. I needed to be in the right mental state to be able to handle the emotional weight of the decision, and I just knew then I wasn’t ready.
When you’re making a huge jump like that, one that will result in you living your life very differently – we’ve already established I cannot speak French – it was a big decision for me to seriously comprehend. The pressure of going into an unknown environment, one where you don’t know the culture to the same extent as your teammates, you don’t know anyone at all, you can’t speak the language. It was so different to my daily setup back in England. But like mum said, it eventually just clicked and made sense. So when I put on that shirt and made my debut, I felt at home.
VERSUS: Didn’t you score and assist on your Morocco debut?
SA: I remember Rosella telling me how hard she tried to not cry during that match.
RA: Every time I hear the national anthem it’s pretty emotional and I have to hold it together, and honestly, I’m not an overly emotional character. But something just hits me every time I hear that piece of music. So to score one minute after hearing it for the first time as a player! Can you imagine how I felt!
Unfortunately it was during COVID so no one could witness it in person. I’m sure mum would have been there as well as my family in Morocco, who kept asking if they could come to the game. But that feeling is one I’ll never forget.
VERSUS: Let’s talk about AFCON. Morocco hadn’t qualified since the early 2000s, and had won just one game up until last year’s tournament? So, to then reach the final and qualify for the nation’s first-ever WWC.
That tournament must have also been incredibly emotional, both from a sporting achievement perspective, but also because you were in your dad’s home country.
RA: It’s really hard to even begin to describe the achievements we’ve accomplished as a team in this past year.
I am really proud of everyone who’s played a part in that journey, and like you’ve just said, we’d never been in an AFCON final before as a country and Morocco was really proud to be hosting that tournament, and people don’t always understand the added pressure that comes with doing that. But hosting those games was the best thing we could have ever done because we had the whole of Morocco behind us. The stadium was full, the support online was crazy, every game was on television. It really felt like the whole nation was behind you, and Morocco as a country is football-crazy. They gave us the exact same support they gave to the men, and that was really special.
“There’s this indescribable feeling I get when I wear that shirt. It’s that feeling that makes me feel connected to my dad.”
VERSUS: I also read that your dad’s family went to every game whilst you played in Rabat. It must have been really special to have them there in the stands, supporting you.
SA: Her grandmother is now in a wheelchair but she still came to the matches, and she was just so proud. She was waving her flag the whole time! She was just so excited. They’re all so supportive of Rosella and her journey. Aren’t they?
RA: They really are super supportive. During that entire tournament, it felt as if my journey had come full-circle.
I was playing in Morocco, the country where my dad was born and raised. We’d just qualified for a World Cup in Australia, where my big sister Yasmine now lives. There’s points where I can go years without seeing my sister and we’re so close, it’s just too hard to plan to go to that side of the world around my footballing calendar. Sometimes you forget about these small things and how special they are, like having your sister watch you play a world cup in our home country. At the time you’re focused on the football and the task in hand. It can be quite overwhelming to sit back and think how full-circle a moment this last year has been. It’s always pretty special going to Morocco because dad’s buried there and it provides us with an opportunity to reconnect with him and our roots. But what I’ve managed to experience with my national team, in dad’s home country these last however many months, it’s been crazy.
VERSUS: Have you ever at any point felt as if you’ve had to justify playing for Morocco?
RA: Yes and no. I think to my nearest and dearest, my support network, I’ve never had to justify it and like I said earlier; I took my time in making that decision and made it when it felt like the right time and thing to do.
Morocco were pushing to go to a World Cup, and I wanted to play on the best stage possible and I was potentially being given that opportunity but above all else it felt right being able to represent dad…I don’t know how mum feels about me not representing Scotland!
SA: To be honest, my family – my brother – he said ages ago, “why doesn’t she want to go and play for Scotland?” But you weren’t in the least bit interested, Morocco just seemed right for Rosella.
RA: I’ve got so many fond memories of Morocco, and the reason it ended up being Morocco was because of dad.
I played football with him growing up. We watched Match of the Day together. We’d both ask mum if we could get Sky to watch football at the weekend, but she always said no. When I think of football, I just think of my dad. No offence mum!
SA: It’s not surprising.
RA: So for me to play international football on the senior stage and represent him, just felt and feels right.
“I played football with him growing up. We watched Match of the Day together. When I think of football, I just think of my dad.
VERSUS: I also read that your dad’s family went to every game whilst you played in Rabat. It must have been really special to have them there in the stands, supporting you.
SA: Her grandmother is now in a wheelchair but she still came to the matches, and she was just so proud. She was waving her flag the whole time! She was just so excited. They’re all so supportive of Rosella and her journey. Aren’t they?
RA: They really are super supportive. During that entire tournament, it felt as if my journey had come full-circle.
I was playing in Morocco, the country where my dad was born and raised. We’d just qualified for a World Cup in Australia, where my big sister Yasmine now lives. There’s points where I can go years without seeing my sister and we’re so close, it’s just too hard to plan to go to that side of the world around my footballing calendar. Sometimes you forget about these small things and how special they are, like having your sister watch you play a world cup in our home country. At the time you’re focused on the football and the task in hand. It can be quite overwhelming to sit back and think how full-circle a moment this last year has been. It’s always pretty special going to Morocco because dad’s buried there and it provides us with an opportunity to reconnect with him and our roots. But what I’ve managed to experience with my national team, in dad’s home country these last however many months, it’s been crazy.
VERSUS: Have you ever at any point felt as if you’ve had to justify playing for Morocco?
RA: Yes and no. I think to my nearest and dearest, my support network, I’ve never had to justify it and like I said earlier; I took my time in making that decision and made it when it felt like the right time and thing to do.
Morocco were pushing to go to a World Cup, and I wanted to play on the best stage possible and I was potentially being given that opportunity but above all else it felt right being able to represent dad…I don’t know how mum feels about me not representing Scotland!
SA: To be honest, my family – my brother – he said ages ago, “why doesn’t she want to go and play for Scotland?” But you weren’t in the least bit interested, Morocco just seemed right for Rosella.
RA: I’ve got so many fond memories of Morocco, and the reason it ended up being Morocco was because of dad.
I played football with him growing up. We watched Match of the Day together. We’d both ask mum if we could get Sky to watch football at the weekend, but she always said no. When I think of football, I just think of my dad. No offence mum!
SA: It’s not surprising.
RA: So for me to play international football on the senior stage and represent him, just felt and feels right.
“I played football with him growing up. We watched Match of the Day together. When I think of football, I just think of my dad.”
VERSUS: I read that, when you used to visit your grandma growing up, you’d spend all day (and night) playing football with local kids in the street. And that you once bought a Morocco shirt at a market, and wore it to school back in England.
RA: I’ve been hunting everywhere for that shirt since then! But I can’t find it anywhere. It was ages ago! I remember being in Year 7 at the time I wore it. Some of my best memories are playing football on the beach and in the streets of Morocco. I would stay out all day and night, only coming in because my grandma would call me for dinner. I used to love going to the market with my dad too – I was a little hustler at eight-years-old. I’d try and get all kinds of bargains!
VERSUS: How proud do you feel to play such a crucial role in the development of Moroccan women’s football? Do you consider it a responsibility?
RA: I do think it’s a responsibility I consider myself to have, but I don’t allow it to affect my game. I take it as a very positive thing, and something I’m really proud to be associated with.
The way I portray myself and the way I act, are how I would like young girls in Morocco to feel as if they could act too. I want them to be able to look up to me and think: “I want to be like her”. And that’s a really special feeling, so of course I want to push for as much progress in Morocco as possible when it comes to women in sport. There are other African teams that have been historically respected in football, Nigeria are a powerhouse in the women’s game for example; but I think we’re going to get there, it won’t be long. And in regards to Arab countries in particular, Morocco is leading the way.
The main message I want to say whenever it’s to do with Morocco is: be whoever you want to be. I’ll try to help pave the way as much as I can to support young Arab girls wanting to play football, and most importantly, be themselves.
VERSUS: Congratulations on picking an award at the Moroccans of the World ceremony. How did that feel?
RA: It was crazy to be honest. It wasn’t that long ago and I never expected to win.
I was sitting in a room with people who I think are way above anything I’ve done, so to even be invited was a huge honour. I didn’t find out I’d won until a couple of minutes beforehand and that’s another one I haven’t really had time to sit back and think about, but my family were super proud, and for me that’s the most special thing.
“There is absolutely no pressure on us. No one is going to expect Morocco to do anything at the World Cup, so watch this space.”
VERSUS: We’re actually seeing more and more players represent their parents’ home nations. Why do you think that is?
RA: I think there’s an element of it being less frowned upon nowadays. More people are open about feeling connected or closer to certain nations because of familial ties or emotional ones. People’s connections to their ‘homes’ are very personal and individual. But what we all have in common is a sense of pride and belonging. I think if you were to speak with any player who’d decided to switch national teams, they’d most likely tell you it’s the best decision they’ve ever made.
VERSUS: When we’ve spoken to individuals who are from a diaspora, they’ve often spoken about having a dual identity. Is that something that resonates with you?
RA: I don’t have a dual identity, or don’t have a sense of one at least. I think I am very much Moroccan, and I am very much Scottish, and I was born in England. That is just me. Thankfully I’ve never really struggled with identifying who I am or my sense of identity, and that’s something I am very grateful for because I can understand how it might be quite difficult for some people. I think it’s also because of my upbringing. My mum and dad immersed me in as much culture as possible, across all three nations and histories. And were always so accepting of whoever and whatever I wanted to be. I never really had any hard times growing up. If I wanted to identify with being Moroccan over English or Scottish, it was always accepted and that made my journey easier. I am just, Rosella.
VERSUS: Finally, by the time this piece goes ‘live’ you’ll be in Australia playing in not only your first Women’s World Cup, but Morocco’s. How are you feeling, what are your expectations?
RA: I am super excited. I think every kid growing up playing football has dreams of one day playing in a World Cup.
Right now, I am enjoying my time switching off and resetting at home, but when I am there I will be ready to go. I am super competitive. I’m not going just to take part. I’m not going because Morocco was a lucky number that was pulled straight out of a hat, we’ve worked so hard to be here. I want to show everyone we’re capable of competing on the world’s biggest stage, and I think everyone in our team will be singing from the same hymn sheet.
I am not gonna sit here and say it’ll be easy because that would be stupid of me, but what a test against the Germans in our first game. Let’s go and see how we get on. Whatever happens I know we’re going to learn and the best thing about it is, there is absolutely no pressure on us and I take that as a positive. No one is going to expect us to do anything, so watch this space.
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