In Taznakht, a regional hub in Morocco’s Ouarzazate province, the municipal stadium that once anchored community life now serves an entirely different purpose. Rather than hosting football matches, the pitch has become a parking ground for broken-down vehicles, motorcycles and trucks, leaving local residents and sports advocates increasingly frustrated with the state of the only significant sports facility in the area.
The stadium is shared by residents of five communities – Iznaguen, Ouslassane, Akhzam, Sirwa and central Taznakht – and suffers from a severe shortage of basic equipment and services. Local demands go well beyond simply fencing off the grounds. Residents are calling for a complete overhaul: resurfacing the playing field, installing floodlights for night matches, building proper spectator stands, and connecting the facility to water, electricity and sewage networks.
Civic activist Hassan Choudi described the venue as lacking « sanitation facilities, with poor cleaning services and stands in a deplorable state, » conditions he says damage both the stadium’s reputation and the wider region’s image. Abderrahmane Aouchni, secretary of the « Taznakht Football Generation » association, echoed those concerns, calling the sports community’s demands « clear and long overdue. » He urged authorities to repair the playing surface, consider installing artificial turf, relocate the municipal vehicle impound currently occupying part of the grounds, and expand seating to accommodate the growing crowds that gather for local tournaments.
Houssein Outsarnat, another prominent voice in the region’s sports scene, called the stadium’s current condition « a mark of shame on everyone responsible locally, » pointing out that the area boasts « a rich football heritage dating back to the late 1970s » and young talents who deserve far better training conditions.
For residents, rehabilitating the stadium is not a matter of comfort but of necessity – an investment in the future of youth sports across Taznakht and its surrounding communes. Whether local authorities will finally respond to these long-standing calls remains an open question, one that continues to test the patience of a community that has waited years for change.
