The fans of Zakho Club eagerly anticipate their team's match against the Saudi club Al-Shabab in the semi-finals of the Gulf Clubs Champions League, which is expected to witness strong competition and a large fan presence in both matches, especially with the presence of Al-Shabab's Saudi defender Ali Al-Bulaihi in Iraq, a player who sparked fan discussions following his recent statements in the Gulf Cup “Gulf 26.”

The first leg of the semi-final will be played at the “SHG” stadium in Saudi Arabia on March 3rd, while the return match will take place in Iraq on the 10th of the same month, in an atmosphere expected to be charged with technical and fan competition.

The story of Al-Bulaihi with the “Sons of Khabour” fans traces back to the Saudi player's statements after his national team qualified from the group stage in the Gulf Cup, which saw the “Green” team defeat Iraq 3-1. His comments were a response to Younis Mahmoud, the former Iraqi star, which some considered as Al-Bulaihi's remarks mocking the Iraqi national team and its fans.

In response, Zakho fans designed a large “tifo” depicting Al-Bulaihi as a crying child, opposite an image of Younis Mahmoud celebrating his 2007 Asian Cup title and his historic goal against Saudi Arabia, in an attempt to defend the “Assassin” and respond to what they considered a belittling of the former Iraqi star's status.

Strict Measures from Zakho Management

In a related context, exclusive sources told winwin that the Iraqi club's management will hold a meeting with the head of the “Sons of Khabour” fan association to issue clear directives preventing the display of any banners that might cause problems during the match, as part of the club's commitment to treating its guests with generosity and respect.

The sources added: “Zakho management is keen to maintain a good relationship with Al-Shabab Club, and to complete the team's journey in the Gulf tournament without any crises, especially since the team aims to win the title as their compatriots Duhok did in the previous edition, making adherence to fan regulations essential to ensure a complete sporting atmosphere in the stadium.”

Zakho tops the standings of Group A in the Gulf Clubs Champions League with 13 points, after their recent 3-1 victory over Bahrain's Sitra in the third round of the group stage, which gave the team a significant morale boost ahead of the anticipated semi-final, which is considered a tough test for the coach, the technical staff, and the players alike.

The coming days will witness intensive preparations by Zakho's management and team to ensure a smooth return match in Iraq, ensuring fans adhere to the prescribed regulations while maintaining sports enthusiasm in an atmosphere that respects the competition and highlights the sportsmanship between the two teams.

Supporters of the “Sons of Khabour” hope their team continues its strong journey in the tournament, proving capable of achieving a new accomplishment to add to its record in the Gulf championships, and confirming its presence as one of the strong contenders for titles.