At first glance, a basketball court in Baghdad might seem a world away from the geopolitical tensions that currently riddle U.S.-Iranian relations. Yet, the hardwood floors of the Iraqi Basketball Super League have become an unexpected nexus where sportsmanship and diplomacy brush shoulders, as American basketball players sign with an Iranian-backed Iraqi team. Their engagement with the Hashed al-Shaabi — or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) — comes amid a backdrop of attacks and counterstrikes between U.S. forces and Iran-supported militias.
The PMF, a coalition of primarily Shiite, Iran-backed forces, has been integral in the fight against the Islamic State militant group in Iraq. Despite their crucial role in regional security, some factions within the PMF have a hostile relationship with the U.S., punctuated by drone attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria as a form of retaliation for America’s support of Israel.
Yet within this complex web of allegiances, a basketball team owned by the PMF aims for victory with the help of American talent. Uchenna Iroegbu, a former U.S. college player, leads the charge, displaying a focus that remains firmly fixed on the game and off the political chessboard. “I’m a pretty simple guy. I go to practice, and if I’m not practicing, I’m in my room. I hang out with my teammates, play video games, read books — the same old, same old,” Iroegbu said, emphasizing a dedication to normalcy despite the unique challenges of his new environment.
The pursuit of personal and team success in sports often transcends political boundaries. Jamal Fadel, the head of the PMF-owned team, echoes this sentiment, “All of the Iraqi teams depend on the international players,” who contribute as much as three-quarters of the team’s points in a given game, he said. “We have no issue if this player is an American, that one is Jordanian or Syrian.”
The Americans earn anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 a month, tax-free, Fadel said, and they also receive free housing. Their compensation, although modest compared to NBA standards, is significantly higher than that of their Iraqi teammates.
Still, the situation is not without risk. Recent events such as a drone attack that killed three American soldiers in Jordan and a retaliatory U.S. airstrike in Baghdad that killed an Iran-backed militia leader, have heightened tensions in the region.
Relevant articles:
– Americans star on an Iraqi basketball team. Its owners include forces that attacked US troops
– U.S. airstrike in Baghdad kills Iran-backed militia leader as regional tensions escalate, Los Angeles Times, Thu, 04 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT
– Drone attack on base hosting US troops intercepted in Iraq, The National Desk, Wed, 18 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT