http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0928CC8D-5E3C-4078-A0E0-0893CC804399.htm
Iraqi football players caution Bush
Thursday 19 August 2004, 23:12 Makka Time, 20:12 GMT
Iraq's team delivered shocking defeats to Costa Rica,
Portugal
Iraqi football players, who have performed
exceptionally well at the Olympics, are cautioning
President George Bush not to use their success in his
re-election campaign, according to the US monthly
Sports Illustrated.
US media has touted the success of Iraq's under-23
team as it beat Portugal 4-2 and Costa Rica 2-0 and
sailed through to the semifinals after bringing
Australia down 1-0 on 21 August.
However, the sudden interest in the team -
particularly from the US Republican re-election
campaign platform - has irked some of its members.
"Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for
the presidential campaign," Iraqi player Salih Sadir
told SI.com.
"He can find another way to advertise himself."
Sadir has so far scored two goals for the team.
But some players went further: substitute Ahmad
Manajid, who played as a midfielder in Wednesday's
match against Morocco (1-2) told the monthly sports
magazine "How will he meet his god having slaughtered
so many men and women?"
"He has committed so many crimes."
Defending Iraq
Manajid went on to say "I want to defend my home. If a
stranger invades America and the people resist, does
that mean they are terrorists?"
"Everyone [in Falluja] has been labelled a terrorist.
These are all lies. Falluja people are some of the
best people in Iraq."
According to Sports Illustrated, one of Manajid's
cousin was a resistance fighter who was killed by US
occupation forces. He allegedly told SI.com that he
would have become a resistance fighter had he not been
on the Olympic team.
Iraq's team is to meet Paraguay
in the semifinals on 24 August
Iraq's second coach, who filled the gap left behind
when German manager Bernd Stange left the team due to
security concerns, told SI.com that he believed US
occupation forces destroyed everything in his country.
"My problems are not with the American people," Adnan
Hamad told the sports monthly.
"They are with what America has done in Iraq: destroy
everything. The American army has killed so many
people in Iraq. What is freedom when I go to the
[national] stadium and there are shootings on the
road?"
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