AAA of Modesto Soccer (Ammo Baba)

The DIVINE

AMMO BABA
Residence: Baghdad, Iraq

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One of the most fabulous and flamboyant soccer players history has ever created. He started shinning in 1951 when he was selected by coach Ismail Mohammed to play for the Iraqi school soccer varsity where his debut was so great and successful when he played against Egyptian team in Cairo, Egypt.

Ammo was born on November 27^th, 1934 in Baghdad in the British controlled Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Hinaidi (Now known as Al-Rasheed). His family and other locals employed by the RAF moved to the newly built base in Habbaniya when he was two.

Ammo first learnd football at the RAF Union School and later went onto play for his school team against other schools in the province of Al-Anbar (Formerly known as Loay Al-Dalim). While excelling at sports, he never took to the cerebral side of his education. Recalling his school days "I use to run out from school. I was very lazy in my lessons but I was very good in sports."

He was to develop and finish his skills when he joined the Assyrian Soccer Club in Habbaniaya, Iraq, and played along with some famous Assyrian such as: the late Ammo Samson, Youra Eshaya, Zia Shawel, the late Hermiz Gabriel, etc.

In 1954 he joined the Iraqi Air Force soccer team for which he played until 1964.

Due to his magnificent playing abilities and subtle techniques he maintained his position brilliantly that he was always called to play regularly for the Iraqi national teams. In 1965 he almost retired due to a serious injury that caused the end of his soccer career.

Ammo Baba had a dark hair, powerful body, and acrobatic skills, and was a great goal score. His astonishing kicking power, bicycle kick abilities, and marvelous speed made him so unique and outstanding.

His greatest disappointment he underwent was his injury while in the peak of his career; yet the ace should be commemorated as the soccer super doper not only in Iraq but throughout all the Middle East countries as well.

He scored approximately 850 goals in his playing career against foreign countries and local teams.

In 1966 Ammo Baba was the coach of the Public Transport Services team. In 1971 he was appointed as the head coach of the Military Academy team for which he played. His production as assistant coach and coach is worth mentioning. In 1979 he was designated to head coach the Iraqi national team.

During the period of coaching his team achieved the following victorious accomplishments: 1. World Military Soccer Cup (twice); 2. Gulf States Championships Cup (twice); 3. Merdika Championship; 4. Asia Championship. It is worth mentioning that he was the only coach who could get the Iraqi national team to the finals of the Olympic games of 1984 held in Los Angeles, USA

Number of games played against foreign teams: 85

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