Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan-Iraq,
June 25 -- This year's Iraqi cup final is to be played in the
autonomous Kurdish north for the first time amid safety fears around
a tie that threatens to fan sectarian passions.
The favourites from Baghdad, 10-time champions Zawra, take on the
long underachieving side of the Shiite clerical capital Najaf, who
are playing in the final for the first time in the cup's 32-year
history.
"The government has advised us of its concerns about this tie being
played in Baghdad because of the risk posed by thousands of fans
being gathered in the Shaab stadium," the secretary general of the
Iraqi Olympic Association, Amer Jabbar, told AFP.
He said the government was particularly concerned about the
difficulties of scheduling the game around the curfew in force in
the capital.
Even when the curfew is not in force during the day, as it has been
several times in recent weeks, the nighttime ban on movement imposed
since June 14 begins at 8:30pm (1630 GMT).
But torrid daytime temperatures in the capital at the height of
summer make any kickoff before 6:00pm inconceivable, leaving little
or no time for fans to get home after the full-time whistle.
"That's why we chose Sulaimaniyah in Kurdistan and chartered a plane
to carry the Najaf and Zawra teams up there," said Jabbar.
The city has a 20,000-seater stadium and has been largely free of
the attacks by Sunni Arab insurgents and Shiite militiamen that have
blighted much of the rest of the country.
A security source said the government had also been motivated by
fears of crowd trouble.
In Zawra's semifinal clash with air force side Jawiya on May 24, one
fan died and 20 were injured in disturbances on the terraces and
police later confiscated weaponry including grenades outside the
stadium.
"I believe it just isn't appropriate to play the game in Baghdad,"
said Iraqi football federation secretary general Ahmed Abbas.
"How can you ask the security forces to steward tens of thousands of
fans when they are tied up providing security for the whole
capital?" he asked.
The managers of the two clubs are divided over the unprecedented
change of venue for the already delayed final, which was originally
due to be played on June 16.
For the mighty Zawra with its large Baghdad fan base, the move is
deeply unwelcome.
"The delay and the fixture's transfer to Suleimaniyah have
obstructed our preparations and had a psychological impact on our
players who will not be able to perform in front of the fans," said
club manager Saleh Radi.
He insisted his team would win nonetheless.
"We've played Najaf 46 times and we've won 24, drawn 15 and lost
just seven. What's more we've got six players in the national squad
while they count just a single under-21," he said confidently.
But for Najaf, the change of venue away from Zawra's fan base in the
capital is a welcome boost to their chances.
"The move and the delay have given us longer to prepare and the
change of venue will deprive our opponents of their home support,"
said Najaf manager Abdel Ghani Shahad.
For the fans of both teams though, the move is a disappointment as
it will deprive them of the opportunity to watch the game live.
For Shiites and Sunnis alike, multiple roadblocks and fear of attack
make the long road journey north to the Kurdish mountains virtually
inconceivable.
"I've been a die-hard Zawra fan for 30 years and have never missed a
home game," said Leith Abdul Jabbar, 50.
"For me, this cup final is more important than the World Cup in
Germany, but it's too dangerous to cross the country to get to
Sulaimaniyah so I'll have to watch the game on TV." Across the
sectarian divide in Najaf, 36-year-old hotel employee Majid Al
Jashami shared Abdul Jabbar's disappointment.
"Lots of fans would have loved to go and see the game in Kurdistan
but it's impossible as the roads are infested with terrorists," he
said, referring to the Sunni Arab insurgents who have increasingly
targeted Shiite civilians for sectarian killings.
"And unfortunately the construction work at Najaf airport is still
not finished." But at least the fans have a game to look forward to,
if only on the television.
The match was nearly called off altogether when Zawra bosses
threatened to forfeit the tie. They only had a change of heart when
President Jalal Talabani ordered $180,000 in prize money for the
winners.
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