“Premier Bleak.”

Football clubs in Iraq are presently going through a very tumultuous period. The Iraqi league, virtually non-existent, is sputtering through a climate of danger and instability. Society in Iraq is bogged down with a plethora of obstacles that are effecting their very existence and well being, leaving football fanaticism very little room to breath. Games are held in unusually empty stadiums and at a very low frequency. Financial support has been depleted to the financial bounties of regional competition as well as the trickle down amounts of monies generated through international football development agencies. The cash bind has forced clubs like Al Zawraa to hold both their home and away matches in Saudi Arabia in return for having their expenses paid and being afforded access to training grounds. In Iraq, football pitches are in squalid conditions with many of them having fields that aren’t up to standard for schoolboys let alone a professional league in one of the most powerful footballing nations in the continent.

Recently the Iraqi league figuratively launched their season with a new format of three groups. Most games are played in the North to escape the poor state of security and facilities in the country’s capital, traditional home of the club scene. Overall, the Iraqi league has been on hold due to these reasons and also due to the commitments of the four giants in regional competitions. It is in these tournaments, where signs of recovery are visible and in some ways overwhelming.

“Taking Arabs to school.”

Two thousand and four saw the induction of the Arabian Champions League into the world of regional rivalry by the Arab Football Association and Arab Radio and Television (ART). The tournament, with a million plus cash prize, is the first of its kind as has been billed as the Arabic version of the European competition. Earlier concerns surrounding the games surrounded the possibility of fans clashing with each other in what supposed to be a show of brotherhood. Iraq, fresh from the wounds of a “brotherly” war, would then be a perfect guest for the first of its kind football festival. Al Zawraa and Al Talaba, both soccer champions, of the Iraqi cup and league respectively, were invited to partake. Their involvement on its own is a notable achievement seeing that only days before the plans came into effect, a war was ravaging the daily lives of destiny. At the opening ceremony, things were very “brotherly” when Ahmed Radhi and Hussein Saeed, football giants, were snubbed for the draw ceremony in which Arabic superstars of the past like Adnan Al Talyani were awkwardly stumbling through the simple process of pulling balls out of bowls and reading numbers.

Weeks later on the fields of Arabia, Al Zawraa stumbled past a fast but undisciplined Palestinian side with Al Talaba also narrowly escaping from defeat at the hands of a Yemeni club. The tournament, with controversial no-shows from Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, was off. Months later, the tournament is at its half way mark with Al Zawraa getting kicked out after a flat but brave run in the group stage. But there has been a pleasant surprise for Iraqi clubheads worldwide as Al Talaba have emerged as serious contenders for the entire two-nation (Asia and Africa) tournament.

The students (English transliteration for Al-Talaba), with their brand of one touch football, proved to be fast and explosive and outclassed the competition, who were better trained and prepared. Defensively and offensively, the blue team from Baghdad, left their opponents conquered and manipulated at will. Ahmed Salah and Basim Abbas have brought creativity and strength to a side that is undefeated going into the final group stage before the semi finals. In a group with Egyptian and African giants Al Zamalek and Al Ahli of Egypt in addition to the Saudi side Al Hilal, Al Talaba are the surprising favorites in a mutiny within the old school of Arabic football.

In fact, in a tournament where the ideals of fair play were meant to be the cornerstones of the message of the tournament and its rich sponsors, most of the preaching, teaching, and schooling has been by one of the participants, the “students” themselves, Al Talaba.

“After party.”

The conditions in which Iraqi club football has been surrounded are nothing new to these clubs. During the days of Saddam’s son Uday, former dictator of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, clubs were victimized and hijacked to become of one his power tools. Throughout the sanctions, the same Arabic “brothers” that have so graciously re-invited them back banned Iraqi clubs from participation. The old and tired Al Shaab stadium continued to proudly embrace the color and heritage of domestic football. Iraqi clubs continued to battle regionally, even making a run for the Asian title at one time, and remained as a fertile source for international players.

Currently, Iraqi clubs are forced to apply their skills mostly outside their own country, and with minimal financial or logistical support. Despite all these conditions, Al Talaba have emerged as contenders for a tournament that has enabled them to compare their level of play with that of the majority of the Arab world. Other clubs like Al Zawraa, played in the same competition, Al Shorta and Al Quwa Al Jawiya, who are both entangled in the Asian champions league, have all managed to emerge from the rubble and play in the face of many obstacles.

Clubbing in Iraq is an obsession not to be quelled.