Zakho Football Club has started a five-day pre-season training camp in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region. The camp forms the first stage of the team’s preparation for the Iraq Stars League season.
The camp comes after Zakho reshuffled its squad and appointed a new head coach. Team supervisor Hamid Ismail said the camp will continue until the end of August, before the team travels to Turkey for further training and friendly matches.
“This camp is crucial to keep our preparation on track,” Ismail said. “The Turkish tour will let us test new players in international matches.”
New signing Sherko Karim highlighted team morale. He noted that visits from international football figures, including Graham Arnold, motivated the squad. “Arnold spoke with many players at our training facilities in Zakho,” Karim explained. “His guidance inspired us to perform strongly this season.”
As part of pre-season, Zakho will play a friendly match against Karkh Club at Erbil’s Brayati Stadium. The match will test tactical adjustments introduced by the new coach and provide an early look at the team’s form.
The Iraq Stars League represents the highest level of professional football in the country. Formerly the Iraqi Premier League, it rebranded in 2023 to transition fully into a professional league. Twenty clubs compete in home-and-away fixtures, totaling 380 matches per season.
Since 2023, the Iraq Football Association has partnered with Spain’s LaLiga to professionalize domestic football. LaLiga provides technical guidance, management training, and development strategies to align the league with Asian Football Confederation standards.
The Stars League officially launched in late 2023, modernizing the domestic competition and raising professional standards. Zakho’s Erbil camp and upcoming Turkish tour are vital for integrating new players, testing strategies, and gaining international exposure.
With a refreshed squad and enhanced professional structures, Zakho aims to improve its standing and compete strongly in one of the region’s most dynamic football competitions.