The Assyrian BOMBER
ARAM KARAM
Residence: Turlock, California, USA
Later on he joined the varsity (C.C) team which was one of the strongest teams in Habbaniaya and which included quite a number of Assyrian soccer stars such as Shmouel Eshaya (Sammy) the father of the inter national soccer player Gilbert Sammy.
After the team was disbanded in 1947, Aram went onto play for and captain Levy Civilian, Aram was distinguished from other players in Iraq because of his uncanny ability of scoring from long range distances of up to 35 yards with either foot.
In 1951, Aram was one of 16 players to be selected to play for Iraq’s first ever national team. He missed Iraq’s first international game against Turkey in Izmir on 6th May, which ended 7-0 to the hosts, but competed in the second game six days later against Ankara Select. Aram proved to be a valuable player on the day as he scored Iraq’s first goal and ended the game with a hat-trick but was unable to prevent a 7-5 defeat.
At the same year a selected team was formed at Habbaniaya in which Aram was a star. This selected team has achieved a good number of championships against teams from Baghdad including: Police Team, Air Force Team, Royal Guard Team.
In 1952, Aram moved to Kirkuk in the province of Al-Tamim and signed for a newly formed team called the Iraqi Petroleum Company (I.P.C.) of Kirkuk. Aram was captain and head coach of the I.P.C. team and under his leadership, the team won six consecutive titles in the Middle East Oil Companies Championships while also winning the 1954 northern Iraqi championship.
Aram was a quick and commanding player and an outstanding dead-ball specialist; his penalty kicks were so powerful that they could tear holes out of the nets. Aram Karam has scored a great number of wonderful goals due to his powerful and accurate shooting.
His fans still remember the three breathtaking goals, he scored while representing the Assyrian Sports Club in a special appearance against the Iranian Taj Club in the 5-3 win at the Scouts Stadium in 1956. Fans would agree, Aram Karam’s goal scoring power was unparalleled. In a blink of an eye, he could slam the ball into the back of the net like a bullet through a gun barrel.
In 1960 he retired and was appointed in charge of sports in the pipe line areas of the Iraqi Petroleum Company and he worked as a coach for juniors. Additionally, Aram was a great asset as an advisor to the Iraqi F.A. in the selection of the national team.
It can be said that the world have not recorded a kicking power as that of Aram Karam for he scored fantastic goals from a distance of about 50 yards whether with his right or left foot.
Aram was a quick and dominating player, very professional in penalty kicks, for in a wink of an eye he would slam the ball into the goal as a bullet.
The great striker played 35 international games and scored nearly 600 goals in his long and distinguished career. In 1992, he immigrated to the United States, where currently lives in Turlock, California.
Will there ever be another sharpshooter like Aram Karam of Iraq?
Number of games he played against foreign teams: 35
