MOROCCO did not pick one of their English Premier League stars for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals because he is a show-off.
That was the frank reply from coach Rachid Taoussi this week to a question about why Queens Park Rangers attacking midfielder Adel Taarabt is not in his squad for the tournament.
Taoussi said he wanted a united team without individualistic and ill-disciplined show-offs.
Reports in Morocco last week indicated that Taarabt refused to meet the coach before Taoussi announced his preliminary side that would travel to South Africa, signalling a rift between the player and coach.
Taoussi spoke after Morocco played to a goalless draw in a practice match against defending African champions Zambia on Tuesday at the Rand Stadium.
The question about Taarabt clearly irritated the coach.
"I want a united team, that plays as a team and Taarabt does not fit that description," he said. "I don't want players who want to be stars and show off. He lacks discipline and I don't want that in my team."
The ongoing rift between the coach and the 23-year-old star could signal the end of his international career - at least for as long as Taoussi is at the helm.
Taarabt has made 15 appearances for the national team since 2009, with four goals to his name. He retired from international football once before, when he was dropped to the bench for an Afcon qualifier against Algeria in 2011. He changed his mind and returned to the national team in October 2011.
He is not the only recognisable face missing from Taoussi's squad. Another England-based player who has not been included is Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh. However, the striker has been excluded because "he has not been getting game time at his club - nothing else", Taoussi said.
Despite boasting other established players like Liverpool's Oussama Assaidi, Montpellier's Younes Belhanda and Aston Villa's Karim el Ahmadi, the side looked average against Zambia.
Why no Taarabt
MOROCCO did not pick one of their English Premier League stars for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals because he is a show-off.
That was the frank reply from coach Rachid Taoussi this week to a question about why Queens Park Rangers attacking midfielder Adel Taarabt is not in his squad for the tournament.
Taoussi said he wanted a united team without individualistic and ill-disciplined show-offs.
Reports in Morocco last week indicated that Taarabt refused to meet the coach before Taoussi announced his preliminary side that would travel to South Africa, signalling a rift between the player and coach.
Taoussi spoke after Morocco played to a goalless draw in a practice match against defending African champions Zambia on Tuesday at the Rand Stadium.
The question about Taarabt clearly irritated the coach.
"I want a united team, that plays as a team and Taarabt does not fit that description," he said. "I don't want players who want to be stars and show off. He lacks discipline and I don't want that in my team."
The ongoing rift between the coach and the 23-year-old star could signal the end of his international career - at least for as long as Taoussi is at the helm.
Taarabt has made 15 appearances for the national team since 2009, with four goals to his name. He retired from international football once before, when he was dropped to the bench for an Afcon qualifier against Algeria in 2011. He changed his mind and returned to the national team in October 2011.
He is not the only recognisable face missing from Taoussi's squad. Another England-based player who has not been included is Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh. However, the striker has been excluded because "he has not been getting game time at his club - nothing else", Taoussi said.
Despite boasting other established players like Liverpool's Oussama Assaidi, Montpellier's Younes Belhanda and Aston Villa's Karim el Ahmadi, the side looked average against Zambia.
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