MOROCCO group mission
April 2026
Yamaha Ténéré 700 2021
The First Group Mission: A Shared Adventure, a Common Purpose
Between 6 and 19 April 2026, Beyond T7nnis completed its first group mission in Morocco, marking a new chapter in the project’s development. It was a return to the country where it all began, but this time with one fundamental difference: the adventure was no longer an exclusively solo experience. It was shared with other participants who wanted to experience the spirit and purpose of Beyond T7nnis from the inside.
The mission began at Fonte Luminosa in Leiria, Portugal, a symbolic starting point for another journey with a purpose. Joining project founder João Beltrão were two Portuguese riders invited to take part in the expedition: Vítor Cunha, from Porto, and Pedro Lourenço, from Castelo Branco. The departure was also attended by Luís Lopes, a councillor from Leiria City Council, who joined the team for this special moment.
A Mission That Began Before the Engines Started
The solidarity behind this expedition began well before departure. In preparation for the journey, both participants mobilised their local communities, reaching out to tennis clubs in their respective regions and involving them directly in the mission. This initiative resulted in valuable donations of sports equipment from Alcaténis and Clube de Ténis de Ermesinde, including rackets, balls and mini-tennis nets.
These contributions were joined by donations from CETL – Clube Escola de Ténis e Padel de Leiria and CIF – Clube Internacional de Foot-Ball, as well as more than 20 rackets collected during the Taiwan mission. Equipment gathered at different times and from different members of the tennis community was given a new purpose: reaching children who would otherwise have little or no access to tennis.
To ensure the equipment was ready for use in the field, rackets requiring maintenance were also restrung and fitted with new grips at Decathlon Leiria before departure.
More than simply transporting equipment, this mission brought together the contributions of clubs, players and supporters around a shared goal, demonstrating how the tennis community can reach beyond borders and turn individual contributions into real opportunities.
Meeting Morocco
The team entered Morocco by ferry from Algeciras to Tanger Med, with the city of Tetouan serving as the meeting point with Reda Mouzdhair, a former Moroccan tennis player and Beyond T7nnis’ local ambassador.
Reda accompanied the entire mission in a support 4x4 vehicle, playing a crucial role in connecting with local communities and helping organise the tennis activities. His knowledge of the country, his closeness to local people and his ability to engage with children turned each stop into an opportunity to share the sport in a simple, spontaneous and genuine way.
The expedition covered approximately 3,500 kilometres, mainly along off-road routes, crossing some of Morocco’s most remarkable regions. The itinerary included Tetouan, Ifrane, Midelt, Boudnib, Erfoud, Merzouga, Agoudal, Aït Ben Haddou, Tafraoute, Plage Blanche, Essaouira and Casablanca, before the return to Europe.
Along the way, the group crossed the mountains of the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas, rode through cedar forests and the demanding trails of Cirque du Jaffar, crossed the dunes of Merzouga and the arid landscapes of southern Morocco, passed through the Aït Ben Haddou region and eventually reached the Atlantic coast. One of the most memorable moments was riding approximately 100 kilometres along the beach at Plage Blanche, a unique setting that provided an unforgettable riding experience.
The diversity of the landscapes was matched by the variety of challenges, requiring adaptability, teamwork and a willingness to deal with very different conditions throughout the journey.
Aouli: Bringing Tennis to a Remote School
Among all the experiences during the mission, the activity in Aouli was one of the most meaningful.
Once a thriving mining area, Aouli is now a remote settlement where daily life unfolds far from many of the resources and opportunities available in larger towns and cities. The local school currently has just 11 children.
The team arrived in the late afternoon. Hearing the sound of the motorcycle engines, the children began coming out into the street, curious about the visitors’ arrival. What followed was one of those moments that give the entire project its meaning.
A mini-tennis net was set up in the school’s concrete sports area, and rackets and balls were distributed to the children. Within minutes, the space had become a small tennis court, giving the children the opportunity to try a sport that, for many of them, was almost entirely unfamiliar.
Through simple demonstrations, exchanges of shots and plenty of curiosity, their first experience of tennis unfolded naturally. No major facilities or special conditions were needed: just some equipment, a willingness to teach and a desire to share.
At the end of the activity, the school was left with a mini-tennis net, rackets and balls, allowing the children to continue playing after the team had moved on. The team also established contact with the teacher, with the shared commitment to encourage regular use of the equipment and follow the children’s progress.
The goal is not simply to provide a one-off experience, but to create the conditions for tennis to become part of these children’s everyday lives, even after the mission has continued on its way.
Small Encounters, Lasting Memories
Throughout the expedition, hundreds of tennis balls, dozens of rackets and a variety of other items were distributed, including pens, caps and footwear. Each stop offered different opportunities to connect with local people, demonstrating that tennis can be a universal language capable of bringing people together even when they do not share the same language or cultural background.
In these moments, the value of the activity went far beyond the equipment donated. It could be found in the smiles, the curiosity, the eagerness to try something new and the opportunity to discover a sport through shared experience.
The mission also made it possible to identify other schools and small communities with limited numbers of pupils where future activities could be organised. These reconnaissance visits are essential to preparing future initiatives and ensuring that the project continues to grow in response to real needs, local relationships and concrete opportunities.
A Journey That Also Tested the Team
As with any adventure expedition, the route was not without its difficulties. Heavy rainfall in northern Morocco caused landslides, requiring increased attention to trail conditions. In the Erg Chebbi region, two sandstorms tested the group’s adaptability and resilience.
Despite these challenges, the entire planned route was successfully completed. The experience required flexibility, mutual support and a constant respect for the conditions on the ground, reinforcing the team spirit at the heart of this first group mission.
During the final stage of the journey, the team also had the opportunity to visit the Carta Rallye bivouac as preparations were underway for the start of the event. The Beyond T7nnis team was delighted to reconnect with the official Yamaha Ténéré Spirit Experience team, with whom João Beltrão had also spent time during the previous year’s edition.
This meeting was a special moment for the project, bringing together two initiatives connected by motorcycle adventure and a shared desire to explore new territories.
An Experience That Goes Beyond the Journey
For Vítor Cunha and Pedro Lourenço, this mission represented the fulfilment of a dream. Both travelled to Morocco for the first time and had the opportunity to experience the challenge of crossing desert regions, riding through mountains and exploring some of the most iconic landscapes in motorcycle adventure travel.
But the experience went far beyond riding. By taking part in the project’s activities, they witnessed first-hand the difference Beyond T7nnis seeks to make in the communities it visits. They saw how a net, a few rackets and some balls could transform a sports area into an opportunity for discovery, and how a child’s first experience of a sport could spark excitement, happiness and a desire to keep learning.
It was also an opportunity to understand that the purpose of the journey is not measured solely by the kilometres travelled or the places visited, but by the people encountered along the way and the connections that can be built.
A New Chapter in the Story of Beyond T7nnis
Since its first mission in Morocco, Beyond T7nnis has grown through a combination of adventure, human connection and the promotion of tennis in communities with limited access to the sport. The completion of this first group mission represents a natural evolution of that journey.
Growing interest from people wishing to take part directly in the project made it possible to open the expedition to other riders, sharing not only the journey itself but also the responsibility and satisfaction of contributing to its purpose.
This first experience demonstrated that people with different backgrounds and motivations can come together around a common cause, forming a team that explores new territories while helping create new opportunities for the children they meet along the way.
Once again, Morocco was the setting where it all unfolded. Across mountains, deserts, trails, beaches and remote communities, this mission confirmed that adventure and solidarity can travel side by side.
