A study highlights the historical transformations of cultural and political identity in “Hassania Agadir”

Under the title “The cultural and political identity of sports clubs... Hassania Agadir as a model,” a study published in the latest issue of the historical magazine “Lexus” confirmed that “sports clubs represent structures for the production of political culture, and are thus symbolic institutions that reflect major social transformations within societies,” highlighting that “clubs are not culturally neutral; rather, they express historical value systems, and this system is expressed by the masses, with what we can call mass identity.”

The study, written by researcher Hassan Akhraz, indicated that “interactions between fans lead to the reproduction of social values inside and outside the stadium, such as competition and solidarity, and embody distinct popular affiliations, cultural and social differences, as well as class within cities,” noting that “sports clubs are an informal space and theater for socialization, as slogans, songs, and various popular practices contribute to consolidating different cultural identities.”

Regarding the process of forming the Amazigh cultural identity in the Hassania Agadir club, the same document considered that “the founding of the team has always been linked to the colonial period, specifically in 1946; however, it was not recognized by the French authorities in the person of Captain ‘Cheeks’. After numerous attempts and correspondence with the French administration for an official license to establish the team, the rejection came from the French administration, justifying its decision to include Europeans in the management office as well as in the list of players.”

She added: “After many attempts by the previously established governing body, an elite group of Moroccan nationalists who belong to the city of Agadir contributed to the founding of this football club, after a series of meetings and gatherings that they held among themselves in order to realize this bet. On the one hand, it is one of the resistance mechanisms launched by this group against the colonialists, especially since they did not accept the presence of French members, whether in the governing body or among the players, and on the other hand, it is an expression of the extent of the presence of national identity among the local elite.”

Researcher Hassan Akhraz explained, “An elite group of Moroccan patriots in the city of Agadir and its environs contributed to laying the basic building blocks for the Hassania Agadir team. The most prominent of them is Abdullah Al-Qasimi, who was part of the armed cell that was established to carry out armed operations against colonialism, and he was part of the first marching office that was not recognized by the colonial authorities. Mohamed Boufos and Ali Abarni also played a prominent role in resisting the colonialists and in forming the team’s marching office.”