www.iraqfootball.org http://www.iraqfootball.org Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 How The Hussein Family Ruined Soccer For Many. http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/14/how-the-hussein-family-ruined-soccer-for-many/ http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/14/how-the-hussein-family-ruined-soccer-for-many/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.iraqfootball.org/&p=10 Soccer is a powerful global phenomenon. It is more than a simple game played on a field with two goal posts. It is political and ideological. More than any other sport, Soccer is a reflection of the people, culture, and national identity of a particular country. In other words, soccer is the voice of the people. It is a democratic and unifying sport. In occupied and war-torn countries the game of soccer is the mortar that holds the people and the land together; it is a shared common bond and cultural identity. However, in certain countries, political leaders and dictators have sought to eradicate the game. They are threatened and intimidated by its power. By banishing soccer these dictators sought to take away the voice of the people. This was the certainly the case in Iraq. Fearing the power that soccer has, as well as its democratic spirit, the Hussein family did its best to ruin the game for many of the Iraqi people. However, soccer never went away in Iraq. Today, the Iraqi National team has become a symbol of perseverance. It is a representation of what it means to defy adversity. Soccer is the unifying voice of Iraq.If you like what you see, keep going: Zico says he’ll coach Iraq national soccer team

]]> http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/14/how-the-hussein-family-ruined-soccer-for-many/feed/ 0 Iraq’s Olympic History And What The Future Holds http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/12/iraqs-olympic-history-and-what-the-future-holds/ http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/12/iraqs-olympic-history-and-what-the-future-holds/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.iraqfootball.org/&p=9 One of the great nations of the Gulf has been turned upside down by an evil dictator and his family. Iraq was once a wonderful and prosperous country that had a lot going for itself. When Saddam Hussein took over not only did he ruin the country’s government, but he managed to ruin the lives of the citizens as well. Putting his son in charge of the country’s Olympic athletes brought further destruction to the country.

Iraq first participated in the Olympics in 1948. It may seem that Iraq has sat out more Olympics over the years than they have actually participated. The country did not participate in the 1952, 1956, 1972 and 1976 games, boycotting all for one reason or the other, but have participated in all games since 1980. When they do participate they have not been too successful, Iraq has only won one medal in their history of participating. Abdul Wahid Aziz was the victor of a bronze medal in Weightlifting in the 1960 games.

Despite little success in the Olympics, Iraq used to be a country that could take pride in its sports and athletes. But the country’s athletes have been forced to sacrifice so much over the last 20 years. How can they train when their safety is in question or when they are worried about the safety of their family? Changes are coming to country, it will take time, but eventually Iraq will return to the country it once was.

]]> http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/12/iraqs-olympic-history-and-what-the-future-holds/feed/ 0 Soccer, One Reason For Hope In Iraq. http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/11/soccer-one-reason-for-hope-in-iraq/ http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/11/soccer-one-reason-for-hope-in-iraq/#comments Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.iraqfootball.org/&p=8 War-torn Iraq has seen dark times. Since the advent of September 11, 2001 and the ensuing military conflict, there has been little brightness in the nation. One spark has been the national sport of soccer, commonly known as football in most places around the world if the exception of the United States. Iraq has had a commendable record in the sport, particularly in the eighties with qualification in the Mexico Cup and the Olympics on three different occasions. The team won several cup events as well, ranking highly in the sport. Under the leadership of Saddam Hussein’s son, the team experienced great oppression and were not allowed to participate in the Asian Games as a result of the Gulf War. Through all their trials and adversity, the team and the sport remains strong in a nation with little else to provide inspiration. The Iraqi team actually rose to prominence again in 2007 with victory at the Asian Cup. They continue to train, thrive, and grow giving their people a light at a time when so much sorrow has clouded their horizon. As they step into the future, their country will look to their national soccer team to bear hope’s torch.

]]> http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/11/soccer-one-reason-for-hope-in-iraq/feed/ 0 How Do You Recover After A Decade Of War? http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/08/how-do-you-recover-after-a-decade-of-war/ http://www.iraqfootball.org/2011/09/08/how-do-you-recover-after-a-decade-of-war/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.iraqfootball.org/&p=7 War is something no one likes to see or even live through if they can help it. Iraq has dealt with a long war and it has really taken a toll on the country, the people, and their overall outlook on life. How do You recover after a decade of war? In fact, there really are many different ways that this can be accomplished. One of the best ways to do this is through sports. Soccer is big in Iraq and one of the better ways to recover after a war.

People in Iraq love their country and they have some very talented soccer players to draw from. The problem is most places to play soccer has vanished. This part of the rebuilding process that the Iraqi people will need to do on their own. By coming together and making new soccer fields they can start the rebuilding process. Sports brings all kinds of people together and that is what Iraq needs right now. They all must have a common goal to rebuild Iraq, and watch their fellow countrymen play the beloved sport of soccer once again. It will not happen overnight, but you must start somewhere. Sports is a great tool to do it, but it takes everyone pitching in for it to be effective.

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