Dimensions
152 x 236 x 19mm
The inspiring sports story that reflects the turbulent history of an infamous nation.
With the fall of Iraq in 2003, the despotic reign of Uday Hussein, Saddam's son and sports minister, came to an end.
For nineteen years he had arrested, tortured and murdered footballers, athletes, officials and journalists, thrashing players with cables and forcing them to kick concrete balls until they doubled up in pain. The world of international sport made only occasional, feeble attempts to investigate the allegations of brutality. Yet against these odds, the Iraqi national football team has long ranked in the world's top 40.
Key to Iraq's footballing success is the story of Ammo Baba, the Arab world's Pelé or Stanley Matthews, whose playing and coaching career spans 50 years. As Uday was jailing players and fixing matches, Ammo was seen by some as a national hero for his defiance; for others, he was too loyal to the regime.
