After flying high, Emad Mohammed’s international career was grounded in Amman with a loss to Uzbekistan. Although the defeat guaranteed Iraq’s exit from the World Cup tournament, it didn’t bring an end to Emad’s prowess on the pitch. He is well into his scoring season in the Q-League, with his new club Al Wakra, and continues to add a dynamic element to Iraqi football. The game in Iraq, just like everything else, is under threat from the instability and violence that has consumed Iraqi society. Recently, shakomakonet tracked down Al Umda and probed his mind through a short, but hopefully, interesting series of questions.

shakomakonet: I’m sure you have been asked this question many times before, but what are your thoughts on Iraq’s successful run that took this past summer’s Olympic Games in Athens by storm?
Emad: Our success during the summer games was a tribute to our people in Iraq, and to the entire Arabic world. We played excellent, and utilized any lucky breaks to the fullest. The hard work of the players and the training staff paid off.

shakomakonet: Tell about your acrobatic bicycle kick goal against Australia in the quarter finals.
Emad: It was the best goal of my life, especially since it took Iraq to semi finals. It is a goal that is going to take its place in the history books of Iraqi football. I just saw the ball falling from the sky, and I knew what to do.

shakomakonet: What happened during our match against Uzbekistan?
Emad: We were just unlucky, even though we played well. There were no particular reasons for the loss, except that we were unlucky. We did everything right.

shakomakonet: Do you find your new surroundings with Al Wakra after moving from Al Ittihad in the Q-League?
Emad: I like my new club, I’m doing well. Hopefully, my recent spell of goals is just the beginning of a high scoring season.

shakomakonet: Iraq’s next major international tournament is the Gulf Cup, what do you feel are your chances in the competition?
Emad: This is Iraq’s first participation since its disqualification which lasted over thirteen years. I am fully confident that we will win the cup.

Special thanks to Al Umda, and good luck to him and his teammates as they prepare for Iraq’s comeback to the Gulf Cup.