Rabat, Morocco. On a quiet Wednesday afternoon, not unlike any other, citizens from all walks of life gather around the unique TV set. FC Barcelona's 18th championship soccer game is about to begin. From the business executive to the traveling merchant, all took time from their daily hassles to attend the coffee shop. Loud and even louder dialogues blend together in a chaotic harmony, and field workers recount their trouble to fellow policemen.
The soccer game starts and the talking turns into whispers. Coffee orders are raining upon the waiter, whose memory is nothing short of admirable. The spectators rise at every occasion, vehemently cheer and applaud every one of FC Barcelona's goals. As the latter accumulate, the topics of discussion shift from individual issues to universal recognition of the players' talent. No winner can be distinguished in the unofficial competition of who is the most knowledgeable fan. Facts pile up just as high as the coffee stack next to the extenuated shop holder, as every person comes up with subtler details and a wider array of information.
The coffee shop is quickly turned into a multi-billion venture company planning out the soccer market. Messi's got the ball. A heated conversation outlines footballers' salaries throughout the sports' history. Goal!!! Words are replaced by shouts, and the conversation is cut quick as the urge to celebrate takes over. Back to the game. The opponent team engages. A newborn stream of discussions arises concerning the latter's performance over the last decade, and the potential improvements such and such transfers would bring to the team.
Rather than a mundane activity, soccer watching is practiced as a tradition. It is an almost sacred ritual that should be satisfied over all but the most extenuating circumstances, a departure from the harsh reality into the glowing world of stars and anthological sporting events. One could almost be led to believe that many of the spectators are satisfying their own thirst for glory through the repeated successes of their favorite team. Hearing them recount the latest exploits of "Barça's" key players is reminiscent of a father's proud tales about his son's performance at the high school's football team.
Beyond the countless amusing anecdotes that stem from these bi-weekly gatherings, it is the exceptional spirit of unity coffee shops bring to the Moroccan community that truly ought to be reported. Amongst all their differences and idealistic conflicts, these brave souls partake in the celebration - and occasional lamentation - of their team's performance. By erasing the cultural and wealth gaps that often separate them, soccer plays a key role in society's stability. It thus appears that the most trivial practices can often reach far beyond intuition's suggestion.
