Iraqi players not interested in fame or fortune (News Feature)

By Peter Auf der Heyde Jun 13, 2009, 15:34 GMT

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.