Raja’s Benzarti Made History, Khaled Zaid wrote it

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Casablanca- Faouzi Benzarti is the man behind Raja’s historic accomplishments in the recent edition of the FIFA Club World Cup 2013 hosted by Morocco. Thanks to the winning Tunisian card, the “green boys” accomplished unprecedented exploits in the international tournament that will remain forever in their memory. But who is the “shadow soldier” who led the Tunisian seasoned manager to coach the Rajawis?

The shadow soldier’s name is Khaled Zaid, the Moroccan manager who sewed the ties between Raja and their current Tunisian coach. Zaid graduated in 2011 before he became a soccer agent in January 2012.

Since then, life was anything but a picnic for Zaid. “The beginning was difficult,” he shares with MWN. “Coaches and the people running sports institutions are dishonest here in Morocco.”

“I had to stay motivated and keep an eye on my objectives,” he recalls. Zaid was aware of all the impediments plaguing Moroccan soccer in particular and diligently sought to inject some breath of life in it.

Unlike other managers, Zaid refused to be a gold miner who would be unmindful of whether his deals are advantageous or not to the teams involved. Zaid’s asset is reason and long-term vision.

In July 2013, Zaid was behind the deal that earned Difaa Al Jadidi their current coach, the Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha, who in turn led his Moroccan team to win their first Throne Cup after defeating Raja in the final. Benchikha made history, but Zaid wrote it.

After Moroccan coach Mhamed Fakhir left Raja, the green team was in dire need of a leader that would guide it through the challenges awaiting it. Zaid had Raja’s miracle in mind. The young Moroccan manager led Raja to their current Tunisian coach, thus affording the eagles the most important deal in their history.

“My work is only the beginning,” says Zaid. “It is then up to the coach/players to retrieve the maximum out of the experience in order to achieve the goals they set at the beginning of their journey.”

Zaid was the seed behind Raja’s recent exploits. The young manager made magic happen by means of his skilled reading of the green team’s needs and goals.

“I hope that my vision as a manager will contribute with something to the development of Moroccan soccer,” Zaid tells MWN.

“loving your job is the secret,” he concludes.