AFC: Sydney (September 25, 2014) After seven years in the international footballing wilderness, Sydney FC midfielder Ali Abbas has been recalled to the Iraqi national side as they prepare for the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.
Following a strong finish to the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season and a string of quality performances in Sydney FCs recent FFA Cup matches, Abbas has impressed coach Hakeem Shakir enough to be included in the squad for his sides next two friendlies against Bahrain and Yemen.
The Sydney FC cult hero said it was both an honour and a privilege to represent his home country again, and that he is excited to be given another opportunity at the top level.
Its exciting for me, he said.
Ive been working really hard and its come to the point where I got selected again for the national side and Im looking forward to representing my country again.
The Sky Blues star credits his time in the A-League for his return to form and says hes happy with how his skills have improved whilst in Australia.
Im really happy. Weve been working really hard as players at Sydney FC, especially me. Ive been working really hard to be at the top of my game and hopefully I can continue into next year to be improving every day.
To be honest every year I feel Im improving in my game and since I came in 2007, its been much different for me.
Ive worked really hard to get what I want and Ive learnt a lot from the A-League as well so Im really happy and hopefully I can get more experience.
Although Abbas has called Australia home for the past seven years, he recognises how special it is to have the chance to pull on the Iraqi colours again.
Its so special for me that I can represent my country in the Asian Cup and its a pleasure and an honour to play for my country again.
Its been seven years since I put the Iraqi jersey on and I think its an honour and a privilege to play in front of the Sydney FC supporters in Australia.
Since winning the AFC Asian Cup in 2007, the core of the Iraqi side has shifted however Abbas believes the next crop of Iraqi talent has the ability to take Iraq back to the top at Asias showpiece football tournament in 2015.
Theres always new players and good players so hopefully we can do something at the Asian Cup. We won it in 2007 so hopefully we can do it again here.
I think Ali Adnan, Ahmed Yasin and Yaser Kasim, who is playing in England, are good players and I think they have good coaches who understand their players and put them in the right positions.
Weve got a strong team to play in both Asia and the Gulf so hopefully we can make the Iraqi fans happy.
Iraq’s friendlies are against Yemen on October 10 and Bahrain four days later, while at the Asian Cup itself they will be in Group D along with defending champions Japan, Jordan and Palestine.