Just a couple of weeks before the FIFA World Cup invades the screens with soccer frenzy, Casablanca’s Raja supporters were selected World’s Best Tifo of the Week by Ultras World, a leading website for soccer fanatics.
During last week’s game against Maghreb Tetouan, Raja’s ultras coordinated a massive outburst of color on the stadium terrace, shaping a gigantic poker face composed of each of the fans’ colored flags. Originally an Italian expression, “tifo” designates the art of cheering on a team, a practice that has become as much a part of the sport as the match itself. A jaw-dropping display of talent and preparation, Raja’s spontaneous mosaic was a favorite, excelling those of Bayern Munich, Juventus Turin, or Argentina’s acclaimed River Plate. By the end of the game, Raja Casablanca had beaten the rival in an astounding 5-0, but the victory evolves into a metaphor of unity when supporters become protagonists and the players, privileged spectators of a genuine passion.