Iraq football coach Bernd Stange Friday defended his decision to take on the job while Saddam Hussein was still in power before the United States-led invasion of the country.

Agreeing that at one stage he had been called "the Devil's coach", the former East German manager said he had accepted the position because it gave him his last chance to take a national side to the World Cup finals.

"At the age of 55, it was my last chance to see a World Cup -- the World Cup of 2006 in my home country, Germany, " he said on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television.

"It gave me the opportunity to push Iraq to the World Cup. This was the only reason to sign a contract.

"I know I have been criticised for my decision -- and maybe some people are right.

"But they mix politics with sport. They have to accept that I did the same job before the war as what I do now -- I coach young players.

"I have to accept that at one stage I was called 'the Devil's coach'. But I was coach of the Iraqi national team, and soccer is played everywhere -- in North Korea, in Africa, not only in the Western democracies like Australia, or Germany or England.

"We are members of the soccer family of the world family, and we are involved in competitions.

"Football is always peace, it is never a fight, it is never war. Our battle is a battle with the ball, and not with bullets and guns."

Stange said that despite ever-

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present dangers in the country, he had to continue in the coaching role to show those who criticised him that they were wrong.

"I have never been Saddam's coach, I have never met him, I have never met his son," he said.

"I cannot speak about him because I don't know him. All I know about him is his punishments, his tortures.

"But I have never been his coach. I am the coach of my boys.

"They are committed, they have a passion for the game. That's why I am there. That is why I am fighting with them. They need me."

Stange is visiting Western Australia, where he coached top club side Perth Glory for three years until 2001, to pave the way for a match between Iraq and Australia here November 16.

Proceeds from the match -- termed a World Peace Game -- will go to a fund to help to re-establish football in the war-ravaged country.

Iraq have already qualified for next year's Asian Cup, meaning they are one of the best 16 teams in Asia despite the deprivations after the recent conflict.

Stange said that in Iraq he felt he was in danger every day.

"I have two bodyguards and I have a car with black curtains," he said.

"I cannot move and I cannot walk in Baghdad. I go straight from my hotel to a training pitch in the suburbs.

"I have had a gun put to my head and a demand for my camera, which I gave up. I was frightened for my life."