Standing alongside the pitch at Baghdad’s al-Shaab stadium as more than 50,000 rabid fans cheered on their national side, Mohammed Raed spelled out his own measure of the city’s improved security.
“The fact that this many people came to the stadium at this time of night in Baghdad shows how much better it is, it is very secure,” the Iraqi Special Forces First Lieutenant said.
Speaking as Iraq’s soccer players were busy thumping the Palestinian national side 4-0 late on Monday in the first international soccer match played in the Iraqi capital since the US-led invasion in 2003, Raed was upbeat about Iraq’s security situation and its future.
PHOTO: AFP
“Thanks be to God, we now see people going outside at night — that shows Baghdad is secure,” the 30-year-old said, adding that “this is the first step” towards improving safety around the country.
“The stadium holds 50,000, but when you just look at the stands, you can see that there are definitely more than that,” he said.
Security at the stadium was tight, with cars having to pass through several checkpoints just to enter the car park. As a result, several fans parked their vehicles some distance from the stadium and elected to walk.
There was also a heavy security presence within the stadium, with police, soldiers and special forces all doing their part. Moved by the joyful atmosphere, some soldiers climbed onto the stands to dance with supporters and to urge them to cheer louder.
As the national side ran out onto the field, the crowd, many of whom were draped in Iraqi flags, went berserk, launching into chants of “Iraq! Iraq!”, while three youths brought a flaming torch into the center of the pitch.
Shortly thereafter, some two dozen doves were released as the two sides began their warm-ups.
Some witnesses said supporters began showing up at the al-Shaab stadium at 9am for a 6:30pm kick-off — in the event, the match did not actually begin until 7:40pm.
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