Flower of Morocco - Youssef Rossi

“It was the “real Youssef Rossi” that we saw that night “the Youssef Rossi I know”, Jimmy Calderwood

Walking around the corridors at East End Park keeping himself very much to himself it is hard to believe just how big a celebrity Youssef Rossi is back in his homeland. Speaking to this website in Agadir on Friday evening Youssef conceded it was nice to be back in Morocco especially when Scotland has snow and is cold.

“Here it is good and that’s OK. It is maybe cold in Scotland but the club and the people there are not cold, there is a good ambience”.

The supporters who travelled to Morocco were frequently given peculiar looks especially when dressed up in kilts and flags. Even more puzzled looks followed in trying to explain Dunfermline Athletic but as soon as you mentioned the words Youssef Rossi, great warmth and pleasure was shown.

The reception that Youssef received when travelling with the team from Casablanca was one of great raptures of appreciation. He plays down this national adoration:-

“This is normal for players playing in the national team. I have had six years representing my country in the World Cup and the Cup of Africa and Moroccan people like players who play in Spain and Scotland.”

Youssef played in the Moroccan 1-0 victory over Tunisia last weekend in an African Cup Qualifier. Today, Saturday he has left for Casablanca where he will stay over with his parents before joining the Moroccan international squad on Sunday in Rabat. Tuesday sees him travel to Egypt for a World Cup Qualifying match, a match the Moroccans badly need to win after two 1-1 draws at home against the other teams in the section – Algeria and Senegal.

Our superstar should be back in Scotland on Tuesday 30th January in time to face Motherwell in the SPL. Youssef Rossi believes that Dunfermline are on the route to better things and there will be no doubts about that if he can reproduce the performance he put in against his former club Raja Casablanca on Wednesday. His manager has already said that it was the “real Youssef Rossi” that we saw that night “the Youssef Rossi I know”.

The school chatter of children in Casablanca on Thursday morning expressed dismay at this Scottish team who came and outplayed their heroes. Their biggest hero in his quiet and humble way was pleased with the Pars 3-1 victory saying

“It was a good game; greater technique, quicker technique.”

If the “real” Rossi returns from Egypt Dunfermline will have a great chance of finishing in the top half of the SPL.

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