Iraq on Tuesday will host a foreign football club for a competitive match for the first time in decades, after Fifa gave the go-ahead for games to resume.
The feted Al Zawraa club will face off against Lebanon's Al Ahed in an Asian Football Confederation Cup match in the holy Shiite city of Karbala, 100 kilometres south of Baghdad.
No matter the final score, the scheduled showdown is already being hailed as a win for war-torn Iraq, which just months ago declared victory over the Islamic State group.
The country was prohibited from hosting international games since the early 1990s until Fifa ruled in March to bring it back into the full international fold.
"Up until now we have been deprived the chance of seeing our team's international exploits," said Majid, a supporter of Al Zawraa approaching his fifties.
"Now we'll get to relive the atmosphere of the big matches."
After first allowing the return of friendly games last year, global footballing authorities finally agreed to let foreign teams come for competitive games after agreeing security conditions were fine.
The return of international competitions has been seen as major progress by Iraqis and their government, as the country looks to attract investment and change its image after years of violence.
But still only three stadiums in Iraq have been given the greenlight to host the ties.
They are the 30,000-seater in Karbala, the country's most modern arena in the southern city of Basra and the main stadium in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.
For Baghdad team Al Zawraa that means the game will still not exactly be a home match as their regular stadium in the capital is not on the list.
That has not dampened the spirits of the team or its supporters, who feel they will be representing the whole of Iraq.
"We have been waiting for this kind of match for a long time," Abdel Rahman Rashid, manager of Al Zawraa, told Agence France-Presse.
"It's an honour."
For the players the trip to the game on Tuesday will be far less arduous than the ones they got used to as they previously had to play their competitive international fixtures in neutral countries.
All that travelling "costs clubs a lot and had a negative impact on players", Rashid said.
For the first time on Tuesday his squad will "have the advantage of being at home, in front of its audience, and that will inflate player morale".
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Read more:
Comment: Iraqi youth are reconnecting with the wider Arab world through their shared love of football
Editorial: Sport is a force for unity and peace in a troubled region
Asia football boss wants Iraq back in full international fold after Basra successfully hosts Saudi Arabia match
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For the club's diehard fans the two-hour journey from the capital Baghdad to watch the match seems like nothing.
Veteran supporter Aqil al-Mendalaoui has already bought a ticket.
For him, going to the game is a "national service" that goes beyond just cheering on his beloved team.
"Tuesday's match does not only belong to Al Zawraa, it is for all the clubs in Iraq," he said.
"We, Al Zawraa fans, are known for following our team wherever it plays, so of course we'll be there for the first game after the lifting of the Fifa ban."
Iraqi fans look set to get the opportunity to see more games soon.
After taking on Lebanese outfit Al Ahed, Al Zawraa will host Bahrain's Manama club on April 16.
Next up after that another Iraqi club Al Quwa Al Jawiya will take on Bahrain's Malkiya club in Karbala before hosting Oman's Al Suwaiq.
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
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- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The view from The National
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
