Iraq begin Dubai camp to prepare for Cup qualifiers

Dubai: The Iraqi national soccer team began their training camp yesterday in Dubai in preparation for their first match against China in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

The Asian Champions will play their World Cup qualifiers home match in Dubai, at the Rashid Stadium in Al Ahli Club, owing to the political unrest in their country.

Group A also includes Australia and Qatar.

The Iraq team will be put up at the Etisalat Academy in Dubai. They will be training at various clubs in the emirate.

Raheem Hameed, the Iraq team assistant coach, said the camp will be held for two weeks, during which they will play two warm-up matches, before taking on China on February 6.

"We would like to benefit from the two weeks of training in Dubai to prepare the players for the first World Cup qualifier against China next month. We will also play two warm-up games, against Jordan tomorrow, at the Al Ahli Club, and against UAE on January 31 in Abu Dhabi," said Hameed.

The Iraq team coach Egil Olsen of Norway, who replaced Brazilian Viera - who had led Iraq to victory in the Asian Cup last July - has selected 23 players for the Dubai training camp.