AAA of Modesto Soccer (Albert Khoshaba)

The MATINEE IDOL

ALBERT KHOSHABA
Residence: Wolverhampton, England

Albert Khoshaba

Albert Khoshaba was one of the most distinguished and outstanding soccer players of all times who started playing soccer in his early teens in Habbaniaya, Iraq. As a youngster he started participating alongside his friends and the RAF airmen. The talented left-sided player was one of the last players to come out of Habbaniaya after the likes Aram Karam, Ammo Baba, Edison Eshay and Youra Eshaya.

In 1954 he joined the Employees Soccer Club. In 1955 he was called to serve his military conscription and played for the Army Third Division team until 1957.

After his discharge he moved to Baghdad and joined the Public Transport Service team, for which he played two complete seasons. In 1959 he went to UK in hope of staying there permanently.

But one year had not yet passed he became homesick and returned to his country. It was in 1960 when he joined the Police Team along with the well-known player Gilbert Sammy and indeed he was the forward star of Police Team.

Albert was distinguished to have swift body, calm character, and remarkable speed. He was a fine dribbler with natural body swerve.

It is worth mentioning that Albert represented the Baghdad and the Assyrian combined teams as well as the Iraqi national teams and played alongside with the maestros of Iraqi soccer such as the late great team captain Hermiz Gabriel, Ammo Baba, the late Ammo Samson, Hamid Fawzi, Hassan Balah, Jabar Rashak, Shidrak Yousif, Gorgis Ismail, Gilbert Awekam, Mahmoud Asad, Nouri Dhiab, Husham Atta Ajaj, Qasim "Zawiya" Mahmoud, Gilbert Sammy, Youra Eshaya, Edison David, Jamil Abbas, Hisham Ata, Kasem Mahmoud, and others.

In the field Albert was the matinee idol; his blond hair, olive skin, smiling face enhanced him to the fans and especially the girls, while off the field he was modest, boyish and admirably intelligent.

In 1966 his star started shinning again when he was selected by coach Adil Bashir to play for the Iraqi national team against Benfica of Portugal in Baghdad and was selected the best player of that game. Albert played on the left-side of midfield with Shidrak Yousif in attacking midfield and Hussein Hashim on the right in a more defensive position in a 3 man midfield, part of coach Adil Bashir’s 4-3-3 formation. Benfica went into half-time with 1-0 lead but 10 minutes into the 2^nd half Shidrak and Albert combined to set-up the equalizer for Captain Qasim "Zawiya" Mahmoud, who hit a thunderous shot from 12 yards to beat the stranded keeper.

During the decade that followed Albert was one of the greatest wingers of all times.

Number of games played against foreign teams: 40

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