The UAE's Al Shabab club will host the Iraqi national football team in a 15-day training camp (from May 15 to 30) to help the Iraqi football team participate in future matches in the region.

This was announced yesterday by Saeed Abdul Ghafar, Secretary General of the club at a press conference. The Iraqi team will leave Dubai to participate in other training camps in Barcelona and Spain.

Mujbil Fartous, skipper of the Iraqi national team, and Mohammed Sardar, the current Iraqi national team's fitness trainer, attended the press conference held at the Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium.

"The initiative is according to the instructions of our leadership under the wise guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Their Highnesses The Supreme Council Members and the Rulers of Emirates, to support the Iraqi people in all fields and sport is one of them."

He said they were working with the club on the instructions of Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum to take the initiative and help the Iraqis in this crucial time.

"Sheikh Saeed instructed us to do all what we could to help the Iraqi sports in general and football in particular. We are pleased to become the first UAE club to give a hand to our brothers, who achieved great results in the past for which the whole Arab sport is proud of.

"They reached the World Cup Finals in Mexico in 1986, Olympic Games Finals in Moscow in 1980, Los Angles in 1984, Seoul in 1988, Gold Medal Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982, won the Gulf Cup thrice in 1979, 1984 and 1988.

"They also won three Arab Nations Cup titles in the 1970s and 1980s. Also the Iraqi youth team won twice Asian Youth Championships in 1977 and 2000, and also qualified for the Youth World Cup twice."

He said that all the club's facilities will be at the disposal of the Iraqi team.

"All the Al Shabab playgrounds and stadiums will be at their disposal to get a good training atmosphere. Also the club's medical unit, its employees and officials will serve the Iraqi brothers during their stay in Dubai."

Abdul Ghafar said a meeting will be held between German Bernd Stange, Iraqi team's coach, and Rainer Holleman, Al Shabab's coach his compatriot, to agree upon a training schedule.

"We will see if we can play a friendly match with them. If this is not possible, as Al Shabab's players are on a vacation in May, we'll try to organise a friendly match between them and the selected UAE players from various clubs."