Iraq thumps Palestine in landmark Baghdad tie

July 14, 2009

Iraq won its first international football match here since the US-led invasion of 2003 on Monday, beating the Palestinian national football team 4-0 in a friendly.

Hawar Mullah Mohammed opened the scoring for the hosts in the 25th minute sending the more than 50,000-strong crowd who braved security fears to turn out at the central Al-Shaab stadium into delirium.

Karrar Jasim added a second goal in the 58th minute, followed by Ala Abdel Zahra in the 72nd. Emad Mohammed completed the scoring with a penalty in the 90th minute.

The 4-0 scoreline followed a 3-0 victory by Iraq over Palestine on Friday in the northern city of Arbil in the autonomous Kurdistan region, Iraq’s first home international since 2003.

The Asian Football Confederation and FIFA, football’s world governing body, both gave their approval for the games.

The Iraqi national team won the Asian Cup in 2007 but last month, under new veteran Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic, they crashed out of the Confederations Cup in South Africa without scoring a single goal.

The Palestinian team is now set to head to China for a friendly on July 18.

Palestine has been affiliated to FIFA since 1998, even though the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip do not have statehood. Games are broadcast to the Arab world by the Saudi-owned ART television network.

BAGHDAD (AFP)

Tags: al shaab, Ala Abdel Zahra, arbil, art television, asian cup, asian football confederation, baghdad, Bora, central al, China, coach bora milutinovic, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, emad mohammed, FIFA, fifa football, gaza strip, international football, Iraq, kurdistan region, mohammed, mullah mohammed, national football team, occupied west bank, Palestine, security fears, South Africa, statehood, thumps, world governing body

Iraq wins first home match since 2003 invasion

July 11, 2009

Iraq won the first international football match in the country since the US-led invasion in 2003, beating the Palestinian national football team 3-0 in a friendly on Friday.

The opening goal in the game at Francois Hariri stadium in the northern city of Arbil, in Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan, was let in by Palestinian player Hussam Fadi in the 20th minute.

Yunus Mahmud struck Iraq’s second in the 55th minute and Luay Falah completed Iraq’s evening with a 90th minute goal.

The two sides will meet again on Monday in Baghdad’s al-Shaab stadium.

ARBIL, Iraq (AFP)

Tags: al shaab, arbil, arbil iraq, autonomous region, baghdad, CAF Champions League, fadi, falah, football match, Francois Hariri, game, hariri, home match, international football, invasion, Iraq, kurdistan, minute goal, team 3, US-led, Yunus Mahmud

Palestinian football team to play in Iraq

July 6, 2009

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) – The Palestinian national football team will travel to Iraq this week for a friendly, the first international match staged in the war-torn country since 2003, officials said on Sunday.

“The match comes in a political and sports context, and is an expression of the Palestinian commitment to breaking the siege of Iraq and to celebrating with Iraqis the departure of American forces from Iraqi cities,” Jibril Rajub, head of the Palestinian football association told reporters in Ramallah.

The two teams will meet on Friday in the northern city of Arbil in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq and hope to schedule a second match in Baghdad, Rajub said.

The Asian Football Confederation and FIFA, football’s world governing body, have given their approval for the Arbil match, according to Najih Hmud, vice-president of the Iraqi football association.

“This match is the first step towards ending the ban imposed by FIFA on international matches in Iraq because of the situation our country was going through.”

The Iraqi national team won the Asian Cup in 2007 but last month, under new Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic, they crashed out of the Confederations Cup in South Africa without scoring a single goal.

After visiting Iraq the Palestinian team will head to China for a friendly on July 18.

Rajub said the Palestinian side’s new coach Musa Bazaz, 52, a French citizen of Algerian descent, would arrive in the West Bank on Monday.

Rajub, who gained a reputation for toughness as chief of the Palestinian Authority’s feared preventive security agency, has been actively promoting football since becoming federation head in May 2008.

Last year under his leadership the federation financed the construction of a stadium in the West Bank town of Al-Ram outside Jerusalem and the team played its first ever home match against Jordan in October.

Tags: Algerian, arbil, asian cup, asian football confederation, baghdad, bazaz, Bora, coach bora milutinovic, federation head, FIFA, fifa football, french citizen, gaza strip, home match, Iraq, iraqi cities, iraqi football association, jerusalem, jibril, jordan, kurdish region, national football team, occupied west bank, Palestine, palestinian authority, palestinian commitment, palestinian side, South Africa, world governing body

Iraq to build ´Sport City´ for 2012 Gulf Cup

July 4, 2009

BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraq is to construct a “Sport City” in the southern oil hub of Basra to host the Gulf Cup at the end of 2012, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Saturday.

“The council of ministers, on the recommendation of the minister for youth and Sports freed up 446 million dollars to build a 146 hectare modern complex inspired by the architectural style of Basra,” he said in a statement.

In January 2009, Gulf football chiefs accepted Iraq’s request to host the 21st edition of the tournament.

Youth and sports ministry spokesman Assifa Moussa said the complex would consist of a 65,000 capacity main stadium, a 10,000 seat arena and four smaller training stadiums, each with 400 seats.

A sporting village consisting of eight buildings each housing 16 apartments will also be built under the project, led by an Iraqi company working in association with two US firms, Moussa added.

Tags: Ali, apartments, architectural style, Assifa, baghdad, basra, chiefs, council of ministers, dabbagh, government spokesman, gulf football, hub, Iraq, million dollars, ministry spokesman, moussa, seat arena, sport city, sports ministry, stadiums, The Gulf, U.S., village, World Cup

Iraq hopes to repeat Asian success at S.Africa clash

June 13, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – If ever a team had extra motivation to perform well on the pitch it is Iraq, who are hoping to emulate their 2007 Asian Cup success at the Confederations Cup starting with victory over hosts South Africa here on Sunday.

Despite the acute suffering and hardship in a country in the process of picking itself up off its knees after years of conflict, the Iraqi team surmounted all to be crowned champions of Asia two years ago.

And experienced captain Younes Mahmoud and star striker Nashat Akram spelled out their wish to replicate that feat on the fields of Africa in this dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup.

Having struggled since the Asian Cup the players, accompanied by veteran and much-travelled coach Bora Milutinovic, told an eve-of-match press conference at Ellis Park here that they were in Africa to do business.

“In the Asian Cup we did well against all odds in what was a difficult period for our people. We won it, and now we’re looking forward to rekindling that memory of happiness for the Iraqi people,” said Mahmoud.

“We have a mission beyond football – we want to make our people, who are suffering war and conflict, happy.

“That’s why physically and mentally we’re prepared to help Iraq – that’s ‘our weapon’ and we wish god will help us achieve this task.”

“Our country is changing for the better, we want to help lift our people’s pain.”

Akram, who has just signed a three year contract with Dutch club FC Twente, making him only the second Iraqi to play in Europe, added: “What’s important is for the Iraqi team to represent all our people and communities regardless of their affiliations.

“We not only have Sunnis and Shi’ites on the team, but Christians and Kurds too.”

More importantly, on the footballing plain at least, is the presence of seven of the players who helped Iraq take their continental crown.

In Milutinovic, who was appointed only in April, they have a vastly experienced coach who has taken five different teams to the World Cup finals. He paid tribute to his squad.

“It’s a privilege to be the Iraq coach.

“Coaching Iraq is the biggest challenge of my career. I’ve only had seven days in Baghdad, all the players are based outside – but I know they are going to do everything to make their people happy.

“When I see the atmosphere there (in Baghdad) I realise I’m very close emotionally to the Iraqi players – they have ambition to show that in spite of all the difficulties they may have, they have a very competitive team to do their best for themselves and their country.”

Turning to the not insignificant job of trying to topple South Africa on home soil, the Serb added: “I really trust my team, it’s one that achieved enormous things in the Asian Cup and we’ll do everything we can to win and qualify for the next round.”

Akram chipped in: “It’s going to be very difficult playing against the hosts. We hope to play good football despite knowing it’s going to be tough.”

“We’ve prepared well after a two week training camp in Qatar.”

Asked about the prospect one day of being able to step out and play in front of their home fans, Akram commented: “We’re looking forward to the lifting of the ban on the Iraqi team. For the past six years we’ve played 75 matches, all outside Iraq – as soon as it’s lifted we’ll go back to play in front of our fans.”

Tags: affiliations, Africa, Asia, asian cup, baghdad, christians, confederations cup, cup success, difficult period, dress rehearsal, ellis park, Europe, happiness, Iraq, johannesburg, knees, motivation, pitch, Qatar, S.Africa, South Africa, star striker, World Cup, world cup finals, younes mahmoud

Iraqi star Akram signs with FC Twente

May 21, 2009

BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraqi football star Nashat Akram has signed a three-year deal with Dutch club FC Twente, runners-up in this year’s league title, according to his website.

The promising midfielder with 75 international caps is the first Iraqi player to join the Dutch league and only the second to play in Europe after Hawar Mulla Mohammed Taher Zeebari joined Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta.

Akram, 24, a key playmaker in Iraq’s dramatic victory in the 2007 Asia Cup, previously played for Qatari club Al-Gharrafa and last year was on trial at Manchester City but was denied a work permit by the British government.

After a year with United Arab Emirates club Al-Ain in 2007, he was linked to Sunderland before signing this month with former England manager Steve McClaren’s side.

“This is a dream come true, to play in Europe. FC Twente is a good club with a big coach,” Akram said.

Tags: al ain, Al-Gharrafa, Asia, asia cup, baghdad, british government, dramatic victory, dutch club, dutch league, England, england manager, Eredivisie, Europe, Famagusta, fc twente, football star, hawar mulla mohammed, international caps, Iraq, manchester city, midfielder, Mohammed Taher, nashat akram, playmaker, Steve McClaren, Sunderland, taher, united arab emirates, work permit

Milutinovic´s Iraq side to face Poland, Egypt

April 10, 2009

BAGHDAD (AFP) – Asian champions Iraq will face Poland and Egypt in newly-appointed veteran Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic’s first games in charge, an Iraq Football Union (IFU) official said Thursday.

“The Iraq team will meet Poland in a friendly in Cape Town on June 9 as part of our preparations for the Confederations Cup,” IFU deputy chief Najih Humoud told AFP.

“We will also play Egypt, although the date of the match has yet to be finalised.”

Milutinovic, who has led five different countries at five consecutive World Cups, on Wednesday completed a deal to manage Iraq at the Confederations Cup in South Africa this summer and takes up his new post on April 16.

Humoud said Milutinovic’s contract could be extended if Iraq perform well in the tournament.

The experienced Serbian’s appointment came two months after Brazilian Jorvan Vieira was sacked as coach just four months into his second spell in charge for failing to win a game at the Gulf Cup.

Iraq, who will not play in the 2010 World Cup finals after failing to qualify, made it to the Confederations Cup by winning the Asian Cup in 2007, when the side was led by Vieira.

Milutinovic led World Cup hosts Mexico in 1986, Costa Rica in 1990, the United States in 1994, Nigeria in 1998, and China in 2002.

Egypt, as reigning African champions, will also play at the Confederations Cup, which will be played between June 14-28.

Iraq face hosts South Africa, European champions Spain, and New Zealand in the competition, regarded as a tune-up event ahead of the 2010 World Cup that will also be played in South Africa.

Italy, Brazil, and the United States will complete the Confederations Cup line-up.

Tags: african champions, asian cup, baghdad, Bora, brazil, cape town, coach bora milutinovic, confederations cup, Costa Rica, deputy chief, Egypt, european champions, football union, four months, gulf cup, ifu, Iraq, Italy, june 14, match, Mexico, New Zealand, nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, The Gulf, tune up, United States, veteran, World Cup, world cup finals, world cups

Veteran Milutinovic to lead Iraq in South Africa

April 9, 2009

BAGHDAD (AFP) – Veteran Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic will lead Asian champions Iraq at this year’s Confederations Cup in South Africa, the Iraq Football Union (IFU) told AFP on Wednesday.

“We have reached an agreement with Bora and signed a contract with him to manage the team at the Confederations Cup,” IFU deputy chief Najih Humoud said.

Milutinovic will take up the post on April 16, Humoud said, in an appointment that comes two months after Brazilian Jorvan Vieira was sacked as coach of the national side.

“We agreed the contract could be extended” if the team performed well at the competition, which starts on June 14, said Humoud.

Iraq, who will not play in the 2010 World Cup finals after failing to qualify, made it to the Confederations Cup by winning the Asian Cup in 2007, when the side was led by Vieira.

The Brazilian, hailed as a hero after guiding the side to victory in that competition, was sacked in February just four months into his second spell for failing to win a game at the Gulf Cup.

Iraq will face European champions Spain, as well as South Africa and New Zealand in the Confederations Cup, regarded as a tune-up event ahead of the 2010 World Cup that will also be played in South Africa.

Confederation Cup hosts South Africa, Italy, Brazil, Egypt, New Zealand and the United States will complete the line-up.

Milutinovic, 64, has coached five different national sides at five consecutive World Cups.

He led hosts Mexico in 1986, Costa Rica in 1990, the United States in 1994, Nigeria in 1998, and China in 2002.

Tags: AFP, appointment, asian cup, baghdad, confederation cup, confederations cup, deputy chief, european champions, football union, four months, gulf cup, hero, ifu, june 14, nigeria, South Africa, tune up, victory, World Cup, world cup finals, world cups

Iraqi star Abbas to return to Australia

February 19, 2009

BAGHDAD (AFP) – An Iraqi footballer who sought sanctuary in Australia as sectarianism ripped his home country apart is heading back down under after signing up with the Sydney-based Marconi Stallions.

Ali Abbas, one of the stars of the national side that won the Asian Cup in 2007, was one of three players who fled the national team’s hotel in Australia just months after its euphoric triumph in Indonesia.

The attacking midfielder had talks with the Stallions at the time but returned to Iraq early in 2008, and after discussions with the Iraqi Football Union joined the Air Force Club in Baghdad.

"I preferred to go back to Iraq to represent my former team, the Air Force, but the idea of professionalism is still ongoing," Abbas, who plans to fly to Australia on Friday, told AFP.

"I have reached an agreement with the management at Air Force to return to Australia and join Marconi," he said, confirming that he had received a release form that will allow him to register with Australian football authorities.

The Stallions play in the New South Wales Premier League, one step down from Australia’s leading football competition the A-League.

Abbas and his Iraq team mates Ali Mansour and Ali Khadher fled the Iraqi team’s hotel soon after losing 2-0 in a crucial Olympic qualifying match against Australia in November 2007.

Iraq was at the peak of its sectarian struggle when Abbas sought asylum in Australia and his father had already been killed in an explosion in Baghdad.

"I felt very disappointed after we lost the chance to get to the finals of Beijing 2008," he said, "but I decided to stay there to get some stability back in my life."

His team mate Mansour also returned to Iraq, but Khadher is still thought to be in Australia.

Iraq won plaudits across the world when its national team beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win its first Asian Cup in the summer of 2007.

Written by: AFP

Tags: ali abbas, Ali Khadher, ali mansour, Asian, asian cup, Australia, australian football, baghdad, Beijing, beijing 2008, CAF Champions League, football, football competition, football union, footballer, former team, hotel in australia, Indonesia, Iraq, life quot, marconi stallions, midfielder, new south wales, new south wales premier, plaudits, premier league, saudi arabia, sectarianism, South Wales, team mate, team mates, World

Iraq hands back Asian Cup — dents an´ all

February 16, 2009

BAGHDAD (AFP) – It was hailed around the world as a triumph of the spirit for a war-torn country but it seems that Iraqis could not contain their joy after winning the Asian Cup football title in 2007.

The trophy was handed over to Qatari football bosses in Doha on Sunday complete with dents inflicted during its journey around Iraq’s 18 provinces after the team’s victory in Indonesia in 2007.

"There was some damage to the trophy because of the happiness of the Iraqi people," said Najeh Hamud, vice president of the Iraqi Football Union. "It had been thrown around between some people on its travels."

Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win its first Asian Cup in the summer of 2007, but competition rules dictate that the winning side hand the trophy to the hosts of the next tournament well ahead of the start of the competition.

Gas-rich Qatar will host the next Asian Cup in 2011.

"The Qatari Football Union will repair it," Hamud said, confirming that a representative had handed the trophy over in Doha.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, Asian, asian cup, baghdad, CAF Champions League, competition rules, Cup, cup football, dents, Doha, football title, football union, happiness, hosts, Indonesia, Iraq, journey, Qatar, qatari, quot, saudi arabia, travels, triumph of the spirit, trophy, vice president, victory, winning side

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