At the heart of the architect José Alberto Alegria there are two countries, Portugal and Morocco, whose national teams will face each other this Wednesday, at 13 pm, at the 00 World Cup, which is taking place in Russia. The honorary consul of the Kingdom of Morocco in the Algarve does not choose sides, but he does not fail to point out that a Portuguese victory that avenged the Portuguese defeat of 2018 in Mexico would allow «to restore the balance».
José Alberto Alegria's strong connection with Morocco, which goes far beyond his official duties, has meant that this game has been around for a long time, in conversations he has with different people. "Just now a friend of mine called to make fun of me, asking who I was going to root for," he revealed to Sul Informação, laughing, the Moroccan consul in the Algarve.
“I have a six-year-old godson who plays football. He is Luso-Moroccan. A few days ago, he said to me: on Wednesday, I think they should be even. That way we were all fine», he said.
The feeling of José Alberto Alegria is not much different from that of his “godson-nephew”. “There is always a feeling of division. I want the best to win, I'll be happy if one team wins. Maybe a tie wouldn't be bad…», he said.
However, he recalled, “nowadays, as we walk souks Moroccans, still make fun of us [Portuguese] because of the 1986 defeat at the Mexico World Cup. Bearing in mind that 30 years have passed, a Portuguese victory would allow us to restore balance in the long term».
Whatever the result, the Moroccan consul in the region is convinced that the party will not stop taking place and that the supporters of both countries will understand each other. «I was watching images on television of Moroccans and Portuguese celebrating together in Moscow. I think it will be peaceful,” he said.
«In Morocco, there has always been great support for the Portuguese team. In 2016, they supported Portugal, even against France. There is great sympathy for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has connections and investments in Morocco», he explained.
José Alberto Alegria will watch the match, but «alone at home», despite having even been invited to watch the game at a restaurant near his home, in Albufeira, where a large Portuguese-Moroccan community will join. "I was even the one who lent the restaurant a Moroccan flag," he concluded.
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