Published on: 01/17/2023 – 18:37
After decades of war and security instability, hosting the Gulf Cup in the city of Basra in Iraq’s far south gives residents a taste of victory before their time. An enthusiasm shared by the fans from the eight participating nations.
From our special correspondent in Basra,
“Tonight… Tonight we stay up until morning,” chant about thirty Iraqi supporters in unison. The country’s flag flies like a banner, they come running from all the streets of downtown Basra to join the celebrations on the Corniche.
This Monday, January 16th, the promenade along the Shatt el-Arab river is crowded. Iraq just qualified for the final. The fans cheer under the fireworks that accompany the smallest goal and every victory of the national team. “It’s indescribable, try to explain to Zeinab, a resident of Basra, we cried at the final whistle.”
Some throw themselves into impromptu dances and the few Qatari flags that have drowned in the crowd and have by no means disappeared after the defeat also remain to continue the evening. Enthusiasm is contagious. According to Ayat, this is not surprising. “We all hope that Iraq will always be at peace to be able to experience moments like this,” the Basraoui teenager summarizes the thoughts of many people he has met since the opening match of the cup.
A hoped-for reunion
Whether from Iraq or the Sultanate of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Qatar, the fans bear witness to a special moment that is not limited to the sporting competition. “Without being big football fans, we wanted to see it with our own eyes,” slips an Emirati tourist, hurrying through the crowd that gathers on the riverbank as they do every evening. Holding the Golf Cup in Basra was not a matter of course. For decades, war prevented the country from hosting the event on its territory, and it was even banned from any participation for more than a decade after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait.
Dressed in traditional attire, Sahem was initially present to support the Kuwaiti players. His team dropped out of the tournament but with his wife and friends they decided to continue their stay, happy and surprised by the welcome they received. “We didn’t expect things to go so well, that relations between us Sunnis and Iraqi Shiites would be so easy,” he laughs now. I even have a friend who asks me to accompany him on a visit to Karbala [lieu saint parmi les plus importants de la religion chiite, NDLR]. »
Abdallah, also from Kuwait and a big football fan, still uses the players’ days off to visit the city. “It restored brotherly relations between us. We missed the Iraqis,” he smiles and turns to the owner of the restaurant-museum where he sits.
For almost two weeks, all the nationalities of golf have been meeting in this facility. “Two Qatari people came and I told them about the beauty of Baghdad,” testifies Sadiq el Hassoun, the shop’s owner, trying to explain what emerges from the exchanges with customers. “They told me that they would very much like to go there to see the capital’s holy sites. A friend of mine took them and now they want to go to Najaf and Karbala. They are happy and feel safe in Iraq. »
A breath of fresh air
Whether you’re a big football fan or not, it was an opportunity not to be missed. “I am overwhelmed with emotions. I know how much the Iraqi people have suffered, moved by Moustafa, who arrived from Baghdad the day before the semi-finals, and it’s incredible to see them forget the political squabbles and crises. »
At every game, stadiums are packed to capacity, tickets gobbled up and for those who can’t be there, many pull out TVs or computers on every street corner to watch outside and on several. According to the Gulf Association, the cup in Iraq has reached a record number of supporters with up to 450,000 people. Attention now turns to the final on Thursday 19 January, in which Iraq meets the Sultanate of Oman national team. A repeat of the opening duel that ended in a draw.
► Also read: With the organization of the Gulf Soccer Cup, Iraq wants to find the light