Publication date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Morocco Beach Soccer head coach Gilberto da Costa de Sousa is confident of his team’s strong performance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Beach Soccer Egypt 2024.
Africa's strongest beach soccer national teams will compete in Hurghada, Egypt from October 19th to 26th in a bid to not only win the title, but also qualify for next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which will be held on the African coast. Aim for. Seychelles will be the host country for the first time.
The Brazilian player, who is also a world champion, spoke to CAFOnline about his time with the Moroccan national team and the team’s hopes for the tournament.
Morocco will be in Group A along with hosts Egypt, Tanzania and Ghana.
The North Africans will be in Group A along with Egypt, Tanzania and Ghana.
How was your preparation for the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations?
We have made thorough preparations for this tournament. We have full support from the Football Federation, who support us in a very professional manner. For example, we played against the United Arab Emirates, a top 10 national team in the world, and Mauritania, a team representing an emerging African nation. I believe that with such preparation and a lot of effort, we can perform well in the tournament
Morocco has finished third in the last three tournaments. Based on your experience, how do you think you can contribute to further improving your team’s performance?
We will take it one step at a time. Our entire team is committed to playing our best in every match. Today’s focus is on the first match, against the esteemed Tanzanian team. Once that’s done, move on to the next match and play each match until you get the best possible result.
What are the chances that Morocco will be in Group A, which consists of hosts Egypt, Tanzania and Ghana?
It’s a very balanced group. I believe Egypt will have an advantage since it is clearly the host. They also have very good players and have many years of experience. Tanzania, Ghana and we will definitely be fighting for a place in the finals, but I have to say it won’t be easy.
What do you think about beach soccer in Africa?
Africa is a treasure trove of soccer talent and beach soccer is no exception. There are many talented players with hidden potential. As with anything in life, continued development requires more investment. Countries need to invest in domestic leagues, coaching courses, exchange programs and other competitions. Today, more African countries can achieve positive results in the world, as Nigeria and Senegal have already achieved.
This is your first AFCON as a coach, what would you say was a successful tournament for you personally?
The past few months have been interesting. I have already adapted to life in Morocco and everyone has helped me a lot. I am very grateful to the federation, all the players and the coaching staff. Of course, I miss my family and my daughter. But that’s our job. I hired some more experienced mentors who taught me a lot about Moroccan culture, life, and traditions. Mr. Hisham, a three-time African futsal champion, Mr. Naivet, a former defender and current coach of the U-19 team, and Mr. Mustafa, a former soccer player and pioneer of Moroccan beach soccer, are people who always help me. . I need to travel more around Africa and learn more about the continent. Speaking of a little history, Brazilian culture has a lot of African roots.
As champions of the Brazilian national team, how can this apply to the Moroccan national team?
Not only your previous achievements will help you, but also all the experience you have gained since 2000 in Brazil and around the world. I worked as a fitness trainer under a great coach and then became a coach. Throughout this time, I have worked with some great players. Moreover, I want to carry all this experience into my daily life and daily work. I want to convey my mindset to be passionate about what I do and to always do my best every moment of every day. If I can teach them something, I would be very happy because I would like to give back everything I have learned from the Moroccan people over the past six months.
What is your message to Moroccan supporters participating in this CAF Beach Soccer AFCON?
My message to the Moroccan people is to believe in this team. They are great people, honorable people, and they give their all in every game. They have a lot of love and are very grateful for the chance to represent Morocco in the beach soccer competition. They are ready to have a great competition.
