Tarablsi Gets What He Wants in Erbil Camp

Tunisian coach Sami Al-Trabelsi of Al-Shorta has received what he was expecting from the team's current training camp in Erbil, in preparation for the new season of the Iraqi Premier League, alongside the continental challenge of participating in the AFC Champions League 2, where the "Green Lantern" will be the sole representative of Iraq.

The Police FC training camp has commenced in Erbil, led by Tarabulski, after the management chose the city as the first preparation station due to its calm atmosphere and suitable climate for training, away from the pressures of the media and the team's fans who pursue them in the capital, Baghdad.

With the start of the training camp, the picture of the assistant coaching staff for the Tunisian coach has been finalized. The staff includes Mahmoud Al-Masmoody as an assistant coach, Ahmed Ben Seboui as the fitness coach, and Mohamed Al-Rubai as the goalkeeping coach, while Nader Al-Taroudi will handle performance analysis.

The coaching staff has devised a comprehensive work plan during the training camp aimed at increasing physical and technical readiness, enhancing harmony between veteran and new players, and assessing the levels of all players before the official competitions begin. This was achieved through a series of friendly matches, with the team facing Norouz in their first encounter, which ended in a 1-0 defeat.

Following the match, Police FC significantly increased the intensity of their training sessions, coinciding with the arrival of new foreign players at the Erbil camp, a development that coach Tarabulski had been anticipating since the start of preparations. Venezuelan Rubén Alejandro Ramírez and Colombian Diego Hernández have joined the group training, while the recent sessions also welcomed Cameroonian striker Lionel Atiba, finally completing the squad after weeks of absence.

The Tunisian coach is placing significant trust in the new trio to add varied offensive solutions, especially as the team is set to face important competitions both domestically and continentally. The squad needs a strong bench capable of handling the pressure of the matches.

Al-Trabelsi is still awaiting a resolution on several transfer deals, with Iraq national team striker Mohanad Ali "Mimi" at the forefront. The player has yet to finalize his position as negotiations with the club's management continue, and the coach is eager to renew their collaboration following a successful stint together at Qatari club Al-Siliya during the 2020-2021 season.

The Libyan coach had previously submitted a list of players he wishes to sign during the current summer transfer window, with the standout name being German midfielder Julian Draxler, the 2014 World Cup champion currently playing for Al Ahli in Qatar. However, negotiations with the player appear to be complicated at this stage, and no final agreement has been reached.

The coaching staff of Police hopes to capitalize on the remaining time in the Erbil camp to improve the harmony among the players, before returning to Baghdad for the second phase of preparation and to engage in more friendly matches in anticipation of the new season.