Security, police find relief through sports clubs

Organized sports aren't just for full-time athletes anymore


Policemen and other regional security forces are able to let go of stress and job-related issues by participating in sporting events.

Although protecting the lives and property of people is the main job of security forces and policemen in Kurdistan, that doesn't mean they can't do other things. There are many officers, including lieutenants, captains, majors, and even generals who spend their down time in sports clubs. Some directly play and practice a specific game, while others manage crucial sports offices.

Brigadier Abdulkhaliq Tala'at is known as one of the most active policemen in Kurdistan Region who, despite being busy with his major job, pays great attention to the fun part of sports. "I started loving sports in childhood when I played with friends in my neighborhood team," said Tala'at.

In every Erbil neighborhood in the 1980s, there was at least one soccer team. All the teams representing their areas played in organized tournaments.

Realizing that there were a large number of policemen playing and helping sports clubs in the region, Tala'at's dedicated love for sports did not fade; rather, it kept growing as he became the director of Erbil Police Headquarters three years ago.

"I tried via my position and good relationships with high-ranking government officials to create a situation in which policemen and security forces could display their sports skills through competition," explained Tala'at, who thinks police--like ordinary people-can get relief from stressful jobs through sports.
For a vast majority of policemen, or at least those who like sports, Broosk Sports Club is like their second home--the club is run by the Interior Ministry of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Broosk, which is believed to be the oldest sports club in Kurdistan, was founded in 1956 and funded by a police agency at that time. It changed its name to Shurta (Police), but that led to trouble and the club was dissolved. In 1994, the club was formed again and officially accepted into the Iraqi league.

The club is honored to have Major Tariq Abdurrahman--who was chosen as the Best 2009 Sportsperson in Erbil city in a poll arranged by Kurdistan Democratic Youth Union--as the president of the club. Abdurrahman used to be the greatest soccer star on the Erbil club and the police club in Baghdad. He is the only Kurdish member for the newly formed Iraqi football committee now.

"When we mention Broosk, we have to remember that we talk about a soccer school, as most of the players who are playing for the other Kurdistan clubs were trained at Broos," said Tala'at, who is now the deputy president of Broosk.

Most of the administration members and players of the club are either police or employees of the Interior Ministry. Tala'at has had a big role in promoting sports, especially in Erbil city, by working closely with Erbil province's Governor Nawzad Hadi in building more than 60 footsal stadiums in the neighborhoods.

"We are planning to build a big soccer stadium just for policemen to practice soccer. If we had more time after our jobs we would definitely do more," he said.

Anyone visiting Tala'at's home or office notices he either listens to sports scores or watches Spanish soccer league games. He is an excited fan of Real Madrid. And he was invited by the KRG representative in Spain to watch live events at the next Superclassico match between the two major soccer teams Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Captain Karwan Abdulkarim, a police officer, was recently elected as Broosk's secretary after he served the club for several years as club administration member then media manager. Abdulkarim has an athletic background and graduated in sports department at the Erbil Teaching Junior College in 1992 and played for several neighborhood teams in Erbil.

"I was asked by the club president a few years ago to become the administration member as he noticed that I am a policeman and graduated from a sports institute," said Abdulkarim

According to Abdulkarim, police must dedicate time to sports because they need to be nimble on the job. "If they practice these actions in an organized and academic way such as playing soccer, basketball, or other similar sport, they will have fun and benefit."

Consistency gave strength to the Broosk club, and its players' full dedication and love for the team led the club to winning Kurdistan soccer league two consecutive times.

"Footballers' obedience to high sports and police ethics, their indescribable love for their club, and the integrity among them are the main factors resulting in great achievements. Our volleyball team has represented Iraq several time in the Arab championships; our bodybuilders are the Asian champions, and are all policemen," Abdulkarim said.

He attributed the increasing number of police sportspersons at the Broosk club to the fact that policemen are encouraged to join the club and get administration posts through the club's annual election.

"In a democratic process and a fair election, Capt. Khasro, who runs the men's reformation center, and Capt. Saran, who is the emergency police director in Erbil, were elected as two other administration members."

Besides Broosk, there are other clubs for which police participate. Sherzad Hamza, 22, is a policeman and young player for the Brayati (Brotherhood) soccer club in Erbil.

Asked if his playing affects his job negatively, Hamza said, "I think any player who has a plan and schedule can do his job and take part in any sports activities with no problem. I am doing my job sincerely, just as I play." Hamza hopes to see his club in the premier league next year so that he can expose his skills and become more famous.

Young footballers look for offers from big clubs

For some young footballers, playing is "working" and a means of survival.

Young Kurdish players are becoming prized recruits for clubs that can't afford big-ticket names from the outside.

After the Kurdistan Football Federation (KFF) decided that clubs participating in Kurdistan League could allow outside players to compete on their squads, some teams began spending millions of dinars on bargain signings. Some disagreed with this new law, since it favors only a few specific clubs that can afford to buy players outside of Kurdistan.

Local Kurdish youngsters have become targets of many clubs that don't have a sufficient budget to bring in qualified outside players. But the contract cost and the monthly pay that most of the youngsters get are 15 percent of what outside players get.

Ahmed Yaseen, a young goalkeeper, started shooting balls but prefers the ball at his hands instead of just shooting with his feet. Just before finishing high school, he was offered to play with the Khabat Football Club (KFC) as a goalkeeper in Erbil. He stayed there for two years before moving to Ararat FC then to Brayaty FC.

Yaseen does not get much from his club, but is very optimistic that he can draw big clubs' attention by showing his talents and skills. "I agreed with my club administration officials that if the club doesn't get promoted to play in the premier league next year I will leave and go to a better team," said Yaseen. "I started somewhere, and I realized if I want to move on, I have to think of getting myself in better shape. It is my natural right if I want to play for a better team so that I can get better pay."

His contract bid is two million Iraqi dinars (IDs) for two years and 3,500 IDs is his monthly salary. Although goalkeeping is not an easy task, Yaseen, unlike many goalkeepers, likes it very much. "I find more fun in goalkeeping than striking. Goalkeeper is recognized as half of a team due to sensitivity of the position."

Outside stadiums, Yaseen teaches sports at a primary school in a village called Gawilan in Duhok city. Asked if practicing sports is an obstacle to studying, Yaseen noted: "It is up to each individual's way of thinking; if they have a plan, they can definitely study and play at the same time without a problem."

Khalid Omer, another young player, loved playing soccer from the moment he started at age 8 in the school and showed early talent. In recent years, he has age-advanced in club soccer competition and worked on individual skills with his local trainers in Jihan FC in Erbil.

He is a modern player. He can play with his left foot or right foot. He can play anywhere on the front line, in the middle or outside, the way professional footballers play.

"I'll just keep trying to impress and see where it takes me," noted Omer, whose talents and skills attracted several managers' attention from other clubs. Omer landed with Brayaty FC before coming to Peshmarga FC.

The Kurdistan Olympic Committee (KOC) has made a decision recently forcing the clubs not to sign players for more than one year unless there is an agreement on both sides. The decision came after a lot of players were mistreated by their clubs. "Jihan did not let me respond to the offers I received as I was forced to abide by the club's rules. Fortunately, after the KOC's decision, everything changed. I can move to any club that is interested in me," said Omer.

Omer thinks nowadays that playing is regarded as a job in addition to being fun. Some players rely greatly on the monthly pay they get from their club for expenses and needs; sometimes if the pay is good, they share with family members.

Hawre Yousif, 23, is a college graduate footballer who depends on his monthly pay to survive because he has not been offered a job to play outside his club so far. "Playing is working since I am required by my bosses in the club to adhere to their time schedules and follow their instructions, which actually affects my personal life," said Yousif, who gets 250 IDs as a monthly salary.

Yousif's hope is to play for a renowned team next year so that he will get recognized as a well-known player. "I refused many offers from some clubs based in Duhok city because I wanted to find a job in a government agency and play in my hometown--Erbil--at the same time." He added: "It's been really exciting. This doesn't come often, where a coach of a great level phones your house personally to say he's interested in seeing you play soccer. I'd like to stay humble about the whole thing, but am keenly aware that my whole life may get to change if I play for what I like to." He doesn't know what's going to happen, but he wants to be able to follow his dream.

There are some footballers playing for big clubs and getting excellent pay in their early years. Hardi Nooradding, who is only 19 years old, plays for the yellow castle club, Erbil FC. His contract bid is 40 million IDs for a year while his monthly salary exceeds 700.000 IDs.

Asked what the other footballers have to do so as to receive offers from great clubs, Nooraddin suggested that "they should work hard and never give up. In order to achieve their purpose and bring their dream in to realty, they have to pass through difficult situations."

Nooradding believes KOC and KFF should think of finding ways to train local Kurdish youngsters who can replace the outside ones in the near future. "We need to work on persuading sports officials that they have to give more opportunities for the players playing in the 1st-, 2nd-, and even 3rd-grade Kurdistan league by organizing more tournaments for them so as to prove themselves," he concluded.