Doha: Yassin Bono is the Moroccan superhero who demolished European powerhouse Spain in the long battle before the quarter to the shootout. Big credit goes to Bono as the African team cruised into the quarter-finals after conceding just one goal in the World Cup. How many people know that Bono, who is talked about all over the world, has come to play in Kerala too?
It was 2018. Bono came to Kerala wearing the Spanish La Liga club Girona’s shirt for a friendly match in which Kerala Blasters were also involved. The other team was Australia’s Melbourne City FC in a three-team pre-season friendly where the Blasters were hosting.
Girona’s clean sheet against Melbourne in the first match at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi was bono. Bono filled the field with great saves and Girona won the game by six goals.
However, the player did not play against the Blasters. Girona also had a huge win in the game where Bono was rested. When Girona fired five times at the Blasters post, there was no response from the Malayali team.
After coming and going in Kerala, Bono came to Sevilla on loan. After his good performance at the club, Sevilla got the player in a huge contract. Bono is Sevilla’s main goalkeeper at the moment.
Bono’s Spanish dreams are shattered
Yassin Bono was Morocco’s savior many times before the shootout in the game where the passing tactics of the Spanish army failed. Bono’s stunning saves saved the Moroccan defense at every stage of the game as they thwarted Spain’s forwards outside the box throughout the game.
After a goalless draw in both halves and overtime, the battle before the quarter went to a shootout. The Moroccan players easily hit the ball into the net while Bono at the other end crushed Spain’s dreams. Buono blocked two kicks including the Spanish hero’s kick in the shootout.
Buono, 31, has netted in 100 LaLiga games for Girona and Sevilla. In 2020, he was a member of the UEFA European League Champions Sevilla team. Has been in the Moroccan team since 2013. He has played in two World Cup tournaments and the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. He also played for his country in the U-23 team at the 2012 Olympics.
This time in the World Cup, only one kick entered the Moroccan net protected by Buono. Canada scored against Morocco in the group stage. In the same game, the team won by two goals against one. They beat Belgium, the world number two, by two unopposed goals and held the mighty Croatia to a goalless draw.
Summary: Morocco World Cup hero goalkeeper Yassine Bounou played in Kochi in a pre-season friendly for Girona FC in 2018. The tournament was hosted by Kerala Blasters
