From the soccer fields of Gothenburg, through his debut with IFK Göteborg, to the world’s biggest stage, his strides have only grown bigger. This time, all the way to the World Cup.
Today, we at Huyada had the opportunity to interview Kevin Yakob, an Assyrian player from Gothenburg, who currently splits his time between playing for a club in Aarhus (AFG) in Denmark and the Iraqi national team. We gain a deeper understanding of what this journey truly means to him, and what it means to carry Assyrian heritage and represent it before the world, with stands filled with people holding their breath in anticipation.
“It feels incredible to be playing in the World Cup. It’s been a personal goal of mine for a long time, and I’m very proud,” says the young player. Year after year, Assyrians have struggled with persecution because of their ethnicity. Now, their Assyrian heritage will take center stage, with the world as its audience.
After an intensive recovery, Yakob has made his way back onto the field following a knee injury. For many, the journey might have ended there. For him, however, it became a source of strength, an even stronger driving force moving forward, a turning point.
“Being away for over two years, with all the uncertainty and doubt that came with it, was really tough. But luckily, I’m back now and getting to live my dream again,” he says. You can almost feel his longing to play again.
After moving from Gothenburg to Aarhus, the transition went surprisingly smoothly, largely thanks to the sense of community.
“I’ve met many Assyrians here and become part of the community. I spend a lot of time with them, which has made Aarhus feel like my second home,” he says warmly.
How has it been back home?
“My family and relatives are incredibly happy and proud. I’ve felt their support from day one, and it wouldn’t have been possible without them.” It quickly becomes clear how close he is to his family.
With a cruciate ligament injury, a move away from his family, and several other challenges along the way, we wanted to understand what drives him forward.
“What drives me are my personal goals and the desire to be the best I can be. And to make the people around me proud and bring joy back into their lives.”
Seeing the three Assyrian players carrying the Assyrian flag on TV, we had to find the words to describe the atmosphere on the field when the decisive goals were scored in the playoff games.
“It felt really good to score an early goal. The feeling after the second goal is almost indescribable. At the same time, we knew there was still a long way to go and that the end would be tough.”
He goes on to talk about the support from the stands: “The support exceeded all expectations; we didn’t know what to expect, but it felt like the entire stadium was filled with Iraqis and Mexicans cheering us on.”
We could almost picture that feeling, and with that image still fresh in our minds, we asked Yakob if he had any final words he’d like to share with you, the readers of this article.
“I hope we can help people understand who the Assyrians are and what our history means. I hope everyone continues to support us as they have been doing, and that we on the national team can make you proud.” With those words, we concluded the interview.
To our readers, we at the editorial team would like to share something important. Willpower leads to action, but it is consistency that builds a success story. Let stories like this inspire you to keep moving forward. No matter how many times we fall, it is in getting back up again that we are shaped.
Best of luck to Rebin Sulaka, Frans Putros, Aimar Sher, Peter Gewargis, and Kevin Yakob. You have already made Assyrians proud, and we look forward to following your journey from here on out.
