Ali Al Hamadi wants to put Iraq back on the sports map after signing a professional contract with British Championship club Swansea City this week.
The young footballer left Iraq in 2002 after dictator Saddam Hussein jailed Al Hamadi's father for being an anti-government activist.
Al Hamadi said he believed that coming from a humble background allowed him to become a symbol of hope for aspiring Iraqi athletes.
"I want Iraqis to look at me and say that is possible because I had a similar journey to many people," Al Hamadi, 18, told The National.
He fled to Jordan with his mother and stayed there until he was 3, when his family was reunited in the UK.
“I didn’t see my father until I was about 3 years old,” he said.
He said he still had relatives in Iraq but had not been back in recent years.
The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, followed by years of neglect, decimated the country’s sports industry, with the rise of sectarian violence and lack of good governing causing fans to stay away and teams to falter.
Iraqis have had little chance and support to thrive in the sporting industry, he said.
“I think having people of our nation represented in high levels of society will always be a good thing,” he said.
But football is more than a sport to Al Hamadi and he said he wanted to show the world that Iraqis could do anything if they had the support.
“It’s bigger than football for me. I want to grow, put Iraq back on the map again where the world can see that we can produce good footballers, athletes, politicians and much more,” he said.
It's bigger than football for me, I want to grow, put Iraq back on the map again where the world can see that we can produce good footballers, athletes, politicians and much more.
“It’s a privilege and I want to continue to work hard.”
In 2007, Iraq's national team confounded the odds and won the AFC Asian Cup.
The triumph briefly united a nation that was tearing itself apart.
“We were making progress, but at the end of the day the political and economic side of a country will always affect its football industry. They go hand in hand,” Al Hamadi said.
He said Iraq had many talented footballers but they needed a good support system.
“We need to have a structure and system to put them in to make sure we get their best potential, because if we don't then this will be another wasted generation of good young talented players,” he said.
This is something the country has struggled with for decades.
Al Hamadi's skill was noted after he joined youth team Liverpool Schoolboys when he was 13.
He tried out with both of the city's Premier League clubs, Everton and Liverpool, before joining Tranmere's under-14s.
He had an offer from the club at the end of the 2017-2018 season, but agreed a two-year scholarship at Swansea instead.
“Football was an escape for me when I was younger. From when I was 3 I always used to have a ball wherever I was,” he said.
“As a kid I didn’t suffer from anything, I had a good upbringing with a loving and caring family, but I had something deep inside that felt was missing. I knew that as soon as I picked up a football it would all disappear.”
He received a flood of congratulatory messages on social media after announcing his one-year professional contract.
“I was overwhelmed, shocked and didn’t expect this kind of reaction," he said.
He said Iraqis on Twitter and Instagram described him as “their future”.
The UK Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hickey, congratulated Al Hamadi and said “it seems that the Iraqi football team is going from strength to strength".
Al Hamadi said he thrived on pressure and responsibility.
“I like the pressure and liked the idea of performing and doing something good for the people, I thrive on that and I will fulfil as long as I keep going,” he said.
He said he hoped to bring a sense of pride to Iraqis.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
The team
Videographer: Jear Velasquez
Photography: Romeo Perez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
Video assistant: Zanong Maget
Social media: Fatima Al Mahmoud
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
US%20federal%20gun%20reform%20since%20Sandy%20Hook
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Company%20profile
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Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Captain Marvel
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn
4/5 stars
57%20Seconds
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059