Although he has now left the club, Grant Hamilton's Chaplains Corner is this week a sit down with Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
On the night of Tuesday, January 14th, the day that news of his transfer broke, Faissal invited me round to his flat. He was leaving the country at 6am the following morning and I arrived at 21.45pm after a church meeting. This interview doesn’t follow the same standard questions as the previous Chaplain’s Corner ones. Faissal was pretty busy but keen to communicate to the club and to the fans his appreciation of your support and your care since he signed in the summer of 2019.
So Faissal. We are sitting in your living room fairly late at night and you are about to move to Morocco first thing in the morning. Could you tell me a little bit about the process of signing for an international club? What kind of things do you have to organise?
Fortunately for me I have been to Morocco before. I have a home in Marrakesh but I am from France and I was born in France. My mum and dad and extended family are Moroccan and that helps make it easier.
I’ve never played football in Morocco before but I ended up with a short space of time to make a really important decision because the transfer window in Morocco closes on Thursday (16th). I decided it was the right time to go. I’m excited to see what the style of football is like in Morocco and I know there is a chance for me to get into the international team if I do well over there. My new club coach used to be the coach of the Moroccan national team. If I could get selected for them it would be really good news for me and for my family.
I did involve my family in conversations about the transfer and they are very happy and proud. I’m excited to see what the level of football is like in Morocco.
You know Faissal that I worked in Tunisia for a few years and to prepare for that I did some cross cultural training and went to language school. Thinking back to when you first came over to Scotland, what kind of support did you get? I’m interested in how clubs like Queens can help players whom they sign from a different cultural background?
I came to Scotland seven years ago and was quite young at the time (19). I signed for Dunfermline, who were my first professional club. When I first came over I left all my family behind. They were happy to see me move and to see me get a chance to play football professionally but it wasn’t easy. I didn’t speak any English and I didn’t understand anything when I first came over.
Dunfermline did help me a lot. They found me accommodation and I was sharing with two other players and liked that a lot. I think that helped me have a really good time with the club. Jim Jeffries signed me on my first professional contract and I was excited to show the fans what I could do. I have some good memories of Dunfermline that I will never forget and it definitely helped me that they supported me in the early stages.
So how could Queens help a young player if they brought one over from France or Morocco?
Queens already really helped me a lot. I have really enjoyed it at Queen of the South. The manager helped me a lot, the board helped me a lot and all the players as well. I really enjoyed my time at Queen of the South. Sometimes in football you just have to move and I am gutted and happy at the same time. I have made a good choice for me but I would love to thank all the fans, who have been really good to me and the other boys. I really want to wish all the Queens fans the best in the future. I hope the team finishes in a really good position this season because we have really good players at Queen of the South.
This decision is really about my future and about helping me try and get in the international team. If you ask any player, anywhere what they would like to do in football, they will all say they want to play for their country.
That ties in with one of my planned questions which is ‘what is your dream in football?
International football is my dream but it is also the dream of my family and everyone who knows me. First of all though I have to help my new club. They have trusted me with this move and I plan to push myself and push the club forward because I really appreciate what they have done to make this opportunity happen.
So how quickly Faissal do these things get organised?
It was very fast to be honest because the window in Morocco closes in two days. I knew that the team had been interested in me for a while, even back in the summer, but nothing was arranged. I was happy at that time to spend another year in Scotland and to play for Queen of the South. This time around the talks got serious about two days ago and today everything was organised. By early this morning I knew I was going to move for definite.
What will be your best memories of Scotland? I mean you’re kind of an adopted Scot aren’t you?
I’ve been here seven years and I really like the country. It’s a really nice country and I like it very much. I came from a hotter country but I think I’ve got used to the weather by now.
My best memory is of winning the League One title in 2013-14 with Dunfermline. That was my first professional title and I will never forget everyone in Dunfermline. The club will always be in my heart.
My best moment with Dundee was when I scored against Celtic in March 2017 (the press / social media describe the goal as a screamer and a wonder goal). Brendan Rodgers came looking for me after the game and told me what a good goal I had scored. His comments after the game made me very happy. My second best moment for Dundee was when I scored against Dundee United at the start of season 2017-18. That was a really good goal. (So that explains why they don’t like you very much) (laughs)
For Queen of the South I was happy to score my first goal against Morton at home. I think my best game for Queens was against Dundee United at home when we beat them 4-0. (That was a great game and you played really well that day). Yes, that was the best game for me.
I always try to work hard and I wish I could show more of what I can do for Queen of the South but this is the right time for me to move.
I think everybody would understand your reasons Faissal. What an opportunity you have.
Yes, I have had messages from Queen’s fans and I really appreciate it. They were all sending best wishes and I wish them and the team a very successful season.
We are all sorry to see you go but we do wish you all the best. God bless you in your future career.
Thank you very much Grant. I appreciate that.