The Egyptian coach of Al-Shorta Club, Moamen Suleiman, emphasized the importance of the anticipated match against Duhok in the second round of the Iraqi Stars League, confirming that the team is starting its journey with great confidence after the positive performance against Al-Sadd of Qatar in the AFC Champions League.

Suleiman said: "We are starting our league journey with confidence after benefiting from the rest that followed the match against Al-Sadd, and the stadiums in Basra are exceptional and provide players with the motivation to give their best."

He added: "We know that the season will be long and tough, and each match has its own calculations, but we enter the Duhok match with great ambition to achieve victory and collect our first three points in the league."

The Egyptian coach continued: "Duhok's team is organized and plays good football, possessing a group of distinguished players who can make a difference at any moment, so we will approach the match with high concentration and complete respect for the opponent."

He added: "Mahdi Asahabi will be on the bench, and Abu Bakr and Hassan Raed are continuing their rehabilitation, but the current group is ready to compensate for any absence, and we have great confidence in the players available."

Suleiman concluded: "The ambition of Al-Shorta is clear; we play to compete for all local and Asian titles, and we will strive to have a strong start in the league that befits the name of the club and its large fan base."