A season after its return to the elite of national football (second division D2), the Chabab Atlas Khénifra (CAK) is achieving a feat that will remain forever engraved in the sporting history of the capital of the Zayanes, in particular, and of the entire Middle Atlas region in general. Indeed, following its victory on Saturday against the RAC (1-0), the CAK has punched its ticket as the first promoted team to the first division "Botola Pro" with two days left in the second division championship, thus realising a long-awaited dream of a Zayani public thirsty to see its club figure among the greats of the national football scene, given the talents that abound in the region. Certainly, mathematically, the CAK could be caught in the general classification by the CODM (45 points) in case of defeat during the two remaining matches; however, the advantage of the head-to-head matches between the two clubs and the goal difference remains in favour of the Zayanis, while the IZK, even if it is tied in the general classification with the CAK (51 points) at the end of 28 days, should wait for the next day to seal the fate of the second place reserved for accession to the Botola Pro. For the club president, Brahim Ouâba, "the promotion to the first division was not programmed at the start of the season and did not figure among the objectives set during this season". It should be recalled in this regard that the club had set itself the objective of ensuring maintenance by occupying an honourable place and building a competitive team and putting it on the right track. A mission that was entrusted to the young and talented national technician, Hicham Idrissi, who is largely responsible for this historic performance. But, thanks to the positive results and the victories chained by the Zayani team during the first leg of the championship, the club was crowned autumn champion. It is thus that as the days went by, the ambition grew and the accession to the upper tier was transformed into "a legitimate demand" both by the club's fans and by the various local actors. This "popular demand" was taken up by the management board in coordination with the technical staff, specified Mr. Ouâba in a statement to MAP on this occasion, adding that a colossal effort was undertaken to bring together the appropriate conditions and means for this dream to come true. This historic performance, which required the mobilisation of funds estimated at about 7 million dirhams, is the fruit of rational management, long-term work, and the combined efforts of the management board, the technical staff, the players, and the components of the team, in addition to the unwavering support of the public and the city's actors, explained the club president. As for the future of the team, Mr. Ouâba noted that "we have started contact with the officials to generate financial support for the club and meet the specifications of the Botola Pro". Now that the objective is reached and the dream realised, the difficult part remains to be done because the major challenge remains to preserve this achievement, capitalise on this fantastic and new experience, and succeed in maintaining the team among the elite, knowing that the club will henceforth evolve in a new context that requires more commitments, creation, and financial means. It is in this sense that observers of the local sports scene, approached by MAP, have launched a pressing appeal to all local actors, elected councils, and authorities to provide their support to the team. They called for inspiration from the successful experiences of promoted clubs, by preserving the backbone of the team and the technical staff, citing as an example the experience and the unprecedented journey this year of the Kawkab de Marrakech (KACM) in "Botola Pro", promoted last season. Place then to the mobilisation of all the good wills of the city and the components of the local sports scene around their "dear" team and the management board to put the club on the right track from now on because serious things are only just beginning and the promotion to the first division (Botola Pro) is synonymous with more commitments, responsibilities, and professionalism, they stressed. The time is also for the effective involvement of "the whole sporting world" of Khénifra, called upon to lend a hand to meet the commitments and requirements contained in the "heavy" specifications and, consequently, to be at the rendezvous and up to the challenge, they concluded.