Johannesburg - Iraqi players said Saturday that they are not
interested in fame or fortune as they embark on their Confederations
Cup campaign on Sunday.
Nashat Akram, who will become only the second player from his
country to join a European league at the start of the new season as
he joins Dutch club FC Twente on a three-year-deal, said Saturday
that the Iraqi players had just one thing in mind.
'As you all know, our country has had many problems and there has
been the war and conflict. We now want to be able to give the people
back home some happiness and to do that, we have to do well in the
Confederations Cup.'
The playmaker said that when the team sensationally lifted the
Asian Cup in 2007, people at home celebrated the victory as it meant
so much to them.
'It gave the Iraqi people some hope and it gave them a lot of
happiness. If we can do something like that again, it would be
wonderful,' he said.
Iraqi captain Younis Mahmoud added that they had an important
mission.
'Our mission gives beyond football. We want to make our people
happy as they are suffering from war and conflict. We want to help
the Iraqi people spiritually and emotionally.'
The striker, who scored his side's winning goal in the Asian Cup
against Saudi Arabia dismissed speculation that constant changes to
the coaching staff could be a problem for the players.
'It is the football federation that decides on changes. At our
level we are fully ready to participate and the coach is here to
train us.
'All other things are a matter for the national federation. There
are few differences between the current coach and previous ones. We
players can work under any coach and we are looking forward to this
tournament.'
Akram said that the team also represented the whole of the
continent. 'We are representing all Asian countries, both Arab
speaking and non-Arab speaking.
'We are looking forward to playing good football. We have played
well in the Asian Cup and we are wanting to show good football in
South Africa.'
The 24-year-old made a plea to football's controlling body FIFA to
lift the ban on Iraq playing their home games in the country, which
has been in place since 2003.
'I have played over 70 times for the national side and just two of
those games were at home. If we are allowed to play at home all the
players would be willing to come to Baghdad to play there.
'To prepare for our matches, we have to travel to other countries
in the Gulf region.'
Both Akram and Mahmoud reacted angrily when asked about
differences within the team. 'The Iraqi team is based on one Iraqi
people. We have represented the country before and we want to
represent all sects. We have players from the Shi'ite majority and we
have Kurds, but we are playing in the name of the country.'
And with all the difficulties that Iraq has experienced and is
experiencing, the players are now simply looking forward to bringing
some happiness to their people - all the people of Iraq.
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