Roma World No.8: Iraq

Where did you grow up?

“I grew up in Baghdad in Iraq and moved to Australia at the age of 11. I now live in Sydney.”

Why did you choose Roma?

“I supported AS Roma mainly because of the living legend that is Francesco Totti.”

What is your first memory of Roma?

“My first memory was Roma winning the Scudetto.”

Who was your first Roma hero and why?

“My one and only hero is Francesco Totti. Not only is Totti the best Italian player ever but he is a humble person with a great personality who shows love and appreciation not only to his club but to his family and fans as well.”

Who has been your favourite Roma manager and why?

“My favourite manager was Fabio Capello. He was a great manager - winning the Scudetto and attracting great signings such as Gabriel Batistuta and Walter Samuel."

What has been your lowest point supporting Roma?

“April 10th, 2007, when we lost to Manchester United 7-1 in the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League.”

Have you been to a Roma match and if so, what was your memory of your first game?

“Tuesday July 29, 2014 was a very special day for me - one of the best days that will last in my memory forever. I travelled from Sydney to Dallas, Texas in the United States to watch AS Roma play Real Madrid. Roma won the game 1-0 with an absolute screamer from Totti. I felt as if it was a gift for me from Totti! Francesco noticed me as I had a message on a banner addressed to him saying, 'Totti, I came all the way from Sydney to watch you. I want to meet you please'.”

Which team do you most enjoy seeing Roma beat?

“Inter Milan and Juventus.”

What makes Roma so special to you?

“Roma is very special to me because not only are the manager and the team great, but as a club and staff, Roma is very loyal to their fans. I am proud to be a Roma fan.”

What does Totti mean to you?

“Totti means the world to me. I can write pages about what Totti means to me and how much I love him. He is an inspiration to me. When I look at Totti, I remember the 10-year-old version of me and the journey I have experienced growing up and following Roma and Francesco. When I think about him and his achievements, I get motivated to work hard. My nickname is ‘Mr Totti’ - everybody back home has known who my idol is for years. I have kept almost every picture and every article of Totti since the year 2001.”

If you could meet anyone connected to Roma - past or present - who would it be and why?

“I would meet Totti again! I met him in the elevator at Langham Hotel in Melbourne after the Manchester city game last summer. I wish I could rewind back the time and relive that moment again. I was very nervous when I asked Totti to take a picture with him. When Daniele De Rossi and Kevin Strootman and the rest of the squad in the elevator saw I was not only wearing a Roma jersey but one with TOTTI on the back, they all cheered and encouraged Francesco to take a photo with me.”

What makes you most proud to be a Roma supporter?

“Football is my passion. I am very proud to be an AS Roma fan because Roma is a great team that competes every year for the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia. We are the underdogs in the UEFA Champions League. I’m so proud of Roma!”

Finally, what would be your perfect day as a Roma fan?

“Luckily, I think I lived the perfect day as an AS Roma fan last summer. I was fortunate enough to watch my team play and after the game I got to meet the only person I would ever want to meet in the world, my hero, my inspiration in life, the legend himself… Francesco Totti.”