Iraqi hospitality at the fore as Basra residents open homes to traveling fans

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Kuwaiti football fans buy coffee in the Al-Ashar district of Iraq’s southern city of Basra ahead of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup football championship. (File/AFP)
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Updated 08 January 2023
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Iraqi hospitality at the fore as Basra residents open homes to traveling fans

  • Lack of accommodation at the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup has led locals to house and feed visiting supporters for no charge

BASRA: Ever since Basra was announced as the host of the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup, concerns over adequate accommodation were raised. With thousands of footballing fans descending on the southern Iraqi city, a limited number of hotel rooms has left many expecting a lodging crisis.

Basra’s abundant hospitality, however, has meant that no visitor to the city has been left without a place to stay as the local community opened its doors to guests.

For decades, Basra has not been the tourist destination it once was. Gone is the old Sheraton Hotel along the corniche, now under the less prestigious brand of Basra Millennium Hotel. Since that golden era of Basra tourism, few hotels have been added to the city’s roster. Tripadvisor only lists 13 hotels in the city, with other smaller hotels dotted around the city, most of which have been used by those in the oil industry and not tourists.

These limited rooms were immediately booked after the announcement of Basra as the host city of the 25th rendition of the tournament. If not housing each country’s team members, the rooms were reserved by media personnel, political delegates and celebrities. Few rooms were left for the general public, so the people of Basra stepped up and bridged the gap.

“We can’t have guests come to our city and stay in hotels,” said Sajjad, a 42-year-old electrical engineer in Basra. “It’s an insult,” he continued, showing visible discontent at the idea of anyone paying to stay in a hotel after putting up five tourists from Baghdad in his home, only one of whom he knew previously.

“They should never consider themselves guests,” said Sajjad of his temporary housemates. “It is their actual home.”

Mustafa, one of Sajjad’s guests, expanded on this hospitality. “It’s a service I’ve not seen elsewhere, not even in hotels,” he said. “Sajjad went out and came back with bags full of items like toothbrushes on the off chance we had forgotten things.”

These examples have been repeated throughout Basra. Even I have been given the keys to an apartment by someone I do not personally know to house me for my entire stay. And just like with Mustafa’s experience in Sajjad’s house, I found a fully stocked fridge should I need anything during my stay.

The community’s hospitality goes beyond lodging. Asking for directions to a restaurant ends with an invitation to dinner with a family. Going out, guests of Basra have rarely had to pay for meals as the city’s residents refuse to let them part ways with their money. Ordering lablaby, an Iraqi winter specialty made with chickpeas and usually sold by street vendors, the store owner on the corniche refused to take money from me or any of my friends as soon as he knew we were from out of town.

On one occasion, a taxi driver, Haider, refused to let me ride with him until he had bought me a cup of tea first.

“I consider myself a king these days,” Haider said with a glowing smile. “When I see the guests of Basra from all over the world so happy to be here, I feel fantastic!”

It is this selflessness that explains how the people of Basra take pride in opening the doors to their homes. One tribal leader, Sheikh Kadhim Al-Sarayfi, has opened his guest house to a multitude of tourists each day of the tournament.

This is all despite the fact that Basra has suffered from years of poor public funding from the central government of Iraq, which has caused basic infrastructure in the city to fail.

Basra suffers from a lack of clean water access, poor healthcare facilities and a housing crisis that has led to the creation of 677 informal housing units in the city. With these ongoing issues, locals have still been excited to welcome in as many people as they can.

The hospitality even explains Basra’s desire to continue distributing its wealth to the rest of the country. As the wealthiest city in Iraq, contributing to 70 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product but receiving a disproportionate return, a movement to secede from the central government began.

But it was Basra’s concern over the rest of Iraq that stopped the plan. “What about the poor people of Samawa and Hilla?” asked Haider. “We did not want them to suffer and are proud to share our oil.”

Often, stories are told about the hospitality of host countries to their guests, and I have indeed been to various sporting events around the world. The generosity of the people of Basra has definitely stood out. It really has been a privilege to witness. It does not matter that no hotel rooms are available; not only will the locals give you a home, they will make sure you are extremely well fed too. 


PSG fans display banner calling for end to ‘genocide’ in Gaza during Champions League final

Updated 6 sec ago
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PSG fans display banner calling for end to ‘genocide’ in Gaza during Champions League final

PSG fans are known for their stance against the war in Gaza
The latest banner was likely to lead to disquiet among local authorities in Munich

MUNICH: Paris Saint-Germain supporters displayed a banner saying “Stop genocide in Gaza” during the Champions League final on Saturday.
They raised it shortly after Achraf Hakimi gave their team a 1-0 lead against his former side Inter Milan in the 12th minute. Désiré Doué scored PSG’s second after the banner was raised for a 2-0 halftime lead.
PSG fans are known for their stance against the war in Gaza. They previously displayed a giant banner saying “Free Palestine” in November during the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid.
The latest banner was likely to lead to disquiet among local authorities in Munich. Munich’s city hall displays an Israeli flag as well as a Ukrainian one, and German support for Israel is strong for historical reasons.
PSG could also face a fine. UEFA bans the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit a provocative message that is judged not fit for a sports event, particularly provocative messages that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature.
Financial penalties are typical for a first offense — 10,000 euros ($10,700) for a political banner or disturbances.
Israel’s nearly three-month blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. It has allowed some aid to enter in recent days, but aid organizations say far from enough is getting in.
The UN World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high.

21 athletes killed in Nigeria road crash

Updated 37 min 56 sec ago
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21 athletes killed in Nigeria road crash

  • The Federal Road Safety Corps said the afternoon crash “might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed“
  • The athletes were returning from the 22nd National Sports Festival

ABUJA: A bus crash on a Nigerian highway on Saturday killed 21 athletes returning from a national sports tournament, with authorities saying the accident might have been the result of driver fatigue or excessive speed.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the afternoon crash, which did not involve other vehicles, “might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed” after a long overnight trip.

The athletes were returning to Kano, in Nigeria’s north, from the 22nd National Sports Festival, held around 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to the south in Ogun state.


President Bola Tinubu had recently said the games, which included sports ranging from wheelchair basketball to traditional west African wrestling, represented “the unity, strength and resilience that define us as a nation.”

Road accidents are common on Nigeria’s poorly maintained roads due largely to speeding and a disregard for traffic rules.

Last year Nigeria recorded 9,570 road accidents that resulted in 5,421 deaths, according to FRSC data.


Portuguese goalkeeper Patricio joins Al-Ain for Club World Cup

Updated 31 May 2025
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Portuguese goalkeeper Patricio joins Al-Ain for Club World Cup

  • “Patricio will arrive to the UAE tomorrow evening to undergo medical tests,” Al-Ain said
  • Patricio played 108 matches for Portugal

ABU DHABI: Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio will join Al-Ain on a short-term contract for the Club World Cup, the team from the United Arab Emirates said on Saturday.

“Al-Ain has signed Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio to participate with the team in the 2025 Club World Cup,” the club said on X about the 37-year-old Portugal international who is joining them from Atalanta.

“Patricio will arrive to the United Arab Emirates tomorrow evening to undergo medical tests and join the first-team training,” Al-Ain added.


Patricio played 108 matches for Portugal, helping them win Euro 2016, and has had spells with Sporting Lisbon, Wolverhampton Wanderers and AS Roma.

Al-Ain, who won the AFC Champions League title in 2024, reached the final of the 2018 Club World Cup final in front of their home fans.

This year’s revamped 32-team tournament will take place in the United States in June and July.

Al Ain have been drawn in Group G with Juventus, Manchester City and Morocco’s Wydade.

FIFA opened an exceptional transfer window from June 1-10 to allow players to be signed for the tournament.


Green Falcons hold Alkhobar training session in preparation for World Cup qualifiers

Updated 31 May 2025
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Green Falcons hold Alkhobar training session in preparation for World Cup qualifiers

  • French coach Herve Renard supervised the team as they held a light recovery session
  • Team preparations resume tomorrow night with full training session

KHOBAR: The Saudi national football team held a training session on Saturday in Alkhobar, as they continue preparing for the decisive ninth and 10th rounds of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

French coach Herve Renard supervised the team as they held a light recovery session at the health facilities of the Green Falcons’ base camp, a media statement said.

Injured left back Muteb Al-Harbi continued his rehabilitation program under the medical staff’s supervision, while teammate Mohammed Bakr resumed physical training with the team’s fitness coach.

After the recovery session ended, Renard gave the players some free time, with the squad scheduled to return later this evening at their base.

The Green Falcons’ preparations resume tomorrow night with a full training session at 7 p.m. in Ettifaq Club Stadium.

The first 15 minutes of the session will be open to the media to offer a glimpse into the team’s readiness as the qualifiers draw near.

Saudi Arabia stands at third place in Group C with 10 points from eight matches. Japan tops the group on 20 points, while second-place Australia has 13 points.

The Green Falcons play against Bahrain on June 5 and Australia on June 10.


Oscar Piastri outpaces team-mate Lando Norris to grab Spanish Grand Prix pole

Updated 31 May 2025
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Oscar Piastri outpaces team-mate Lando Norris to grab Spanish Grand Prix pole

  • Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell

BARCELONA: Oscar Piastri outpaced title rival and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in the final minute of a gripping qualifying session on Saturday to clinch pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.
The championship leader clocked a near flawless final lap of one minute and 11.546 seconds to beat Norris by 0.209 seconds as McLaren claimed a dominant one-two having also topped all three practice sessions.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes.
Charles Leclerc was seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls’ impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and local hero two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.
It was Piastri’s fourth pole of the season and career as he seeks to extend his three-point lead ahead of Norris in the drivers’ championship.
“Nice work, very nicely done, everyone,” said the cool 24-year-old Australian on team radio. “That’s quite some turnaround from last year. Well done everyone. Let’s have some fun tomorrow!“
He added: “I’m very glad to be on pole here and now I just need a good start. It’s a long run to the first corner!“
Norris said: “Oscar has driven really well and he deserved it. But it is a great result for the team.”
Piastri’s two-second advantage is the biggest this season between pole and second place.
After an early fast lap from Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in Q1, the big guns arrived in torrid heat with a track temperature of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), and the air at 29, punishing conditions for tires on a high-degradation track.
The session was briefly stalled when Alpine’s Franco Colapinto stopped in the pitlane and, after a delay, forced others to undertake him leading to a frantic final two minutes.
Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull was eliminated in 20th and last place along with Colapinto, Williams’ Carlos Sainz — his worst qualifying result at his home event — in 18th, Esteban Ocon of Haas and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg.
For Tsunoda, it was a major setback as he sought to solve Red Bull’s dilemma in searching for a partner to push Verstappen.
At the front, Piastri topped Verstappen and Norris.
In Q2, McLaren’s duo led the first runs ahead of Verstappen, Russell and a revived Hamilton before choosing not to take a second go as Hadjar shone, taking sixth and splitting the Ferraris.
Out went Alex Albon of Williams, Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Stroll and Oliver Bearman in his Haas.
The top 10 shootout began with Piastri lapping in 1:11.836 before Norris overhauled him by 0.017sec for provisional pole on the opening charge.
Russell was third ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton before a late Alonso lap lifted him to fifth amid roaring appreciation.
Cloud cover affected conditions for the second runs as both McLaren men fought for pole with the Australian prevailing.
It was McLaren’s first front row lockout in Spain since 1998.