Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove has described his league title-winning campaign in Iraq as his best season in the last five years after overcoming a series of injury setbacks that threatened to derail his career.
Dove recently helped Iraqi side Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya clinch the Iraqi Stars League title. The achievement was even sweeter for the versatile defender after difficult spells at both Cape Town City FC and Kaizer Chiefs.
“For probably the last five years, I’ve had to deal with a lot of injuries,” Dove told FARPost in a telephonic interview.
“My first major setback came at Cape Town City when I underwent cartilage surgery, which kept me out for almost an entire season. Then, while I was at Kaizer Chiefs, I had Achilles surgery and missed most of the first half of the season.”
The 31-year-old said completing an entire season without a major injury was among his biggest victories.
“That’s why this achievement means so much to me. For the first time in a long time, I’ve managed to go through an entire season without any major injury problems.
“This has probably been my best season in the last four or five years. For the first time in a long while, I felt like myself again, physically, mentally and in every aspect of my game.”
WHY DOVE CHOSE IRAQ AFTER LEAVING KAIZER CHIEFS
The Mozambique international revealed that he sought advice from fellow African players before moving to Iraq, including former South African-based stars Yannick Zakri and Rodrick Kabwe. Zakri, an Ivorian, played for Mamelodi Sundowns while Kabwe had a stint with Sekhukhune United.
“I always wanted to try something new,” he explained why he opted for Iraqi despite interest from several clubs. “I reached out to them, Yannick and Rodrick, to get a better understanding of the league, the environment and what life is really like here. What those guys told me played a big role in my decision.”
The Mambas defender said the opportunity to experience a new culture and to challenge himself in a different environment ultimately convinced him to make the move.
DOVE DISPELS MYTHS ABOUT LIFE IN IRAQ
The former Chiefs star also challenged perceptions about Iraq, saying his experience in the country had been overwhelmingly positive.
“When people hear Iraq, they often think about what they see on the news, but that doesn’t reflect the reality of the country today,” he said.
“Before coming here, I had the same concerns. That’s why I spoke to people who were already playing in Iraq, and they reassured me that everything was fine.”
Dove added that despite geopolitical tensions often making international headlines, everyday life and football operations continued as normal.
“Since I’ve been here, everything has been okay. Even during periods when there was a lot of talk about tensions involving Iran and the United States, it never affected the league or us. Football continued, and life went on as normal.”
He credited God and his family for helping him navigate the challenges of living away from home.
“I’ve been away from my children for a long time, probably the longest period I’ve ever spent away from them. There were sacrifices involved, and that’s why this success means so much. To see those sacrifices pay off is incredibly rewarding.”
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