Sport | Football

Iraqi soccer in its best ever state, says IFA boss Saeed

The President of the Iraq Football Association Hassan Saeed is convinced the game is enjoying its best ever moment in the country.

  • By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 23:41 November 15, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: The President of the Iraq Football Association Hassan Saeed is convinced the game is enjoying its best ever moment in the country.

"We could not have asked for anything better at this point of time. Football has always been the priority for Iraqis and I am convinced that the game is at its best at the moment," said Saeed.

"The security situation in Iraq is better than what it was and people have started attending matches in large numbers. What more could we ask for?"

From the beginning of this month, the IFA has also re-started the Iraq Football League although in a different format.

The league now has 28 teams divided into two groups of 14 each, compared to the 32 teams that used to play.

"It's all about coming together and bonding, and the people of Iraq have started using football as a platform to meet and be together," said Saeed.

He added Iraqi football turned the corner after the national team clinched the Asian Cup last year.

"That was the height of our success and we are now reaping the benefits of unifying the nation through sports," Saeed said.

Spectators

He pointed to the crowd of more than 50,000 who turned up for the opening match of the new league on November 1.

"We are united as a people and I cannot see anything moving us from this belief" Saeed insisted.

One of the assignments for the national team in the near future is a friendly four-nation tournament to be held in Amman from November 22-28.

Iraq will be joined by Jordan, Syria and Norway. "This will be a competition for the Olympic team and the initiative has come from Norway," Saeed stated.

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