Abbas last returned to Iraq in 2015, before returning to sign for Wellington Phoenix on the invitation of then-Nix assistant coach, Rado Vidosic.

At this time, ISIS was in the process of invading Iraq, setting up a base in the city of Mosul. Baghdad was under threat, as was Abbas and his family.

“I was due to depart back to Australia, but the day before I left, my brother told me I had to leave on an earlier flight - he had heard the rumour of ISIS taking over the areas around Baghdad,” Abbas told Foxsports.

“I changed my flight, flew at 7am, and landed at Dubai at 11.30 - when I saw the news ISIS had taken over Mosul and weren’t far from Baghdad. They closed the airport. I got out with hours to spare.

“My family were lucky because they lived just far away enough not to be badly affected (by the occupation). But my cousin was killed by ISIS - a year after I left, he was shot in the head.

“He was 21. I couldn’t go back for the funeral. This is life in Iraq.”

Following Vidosic's departure due to disagreements with then-Nix head coach Darije Kalezic (it's been a season of upheaval for everyone involved with Wellington) Abbas was released by the club.

The 31-year-old is training alone in Sydney, "banging the ball against the wall" in hope of a lifeline that could not just resume his career, but his life in his adopted country. A country that is yet to adopt him.

“I still have another five years left in me I think," Abbas said.

"There has been no interest here yet, though a few clubs in Iraq have contacted me. But I don’t want to go back unless I have to.

"I built something out of nothing here, and I want to finish it in Australia.”