Basem Qassem Starts Tenure at Al-Zawraa with an Iron Fist

Al-Zawraa's head coach Bassem Qassem has kicked off the new season with decisive measures, aiming to restore discipline to the "Nawras" following a disappointing campaign that ended with the team exiting the race for the Iraqi Premier League title.

Basim Qasim has taken over the reins at Al-Zawraa, succeeding Luay Salah, after an impressive season with Erbil. He led Erbil to a third-place finish in the league table last season despite limited resources compared to more popular clubs, which prompted Al-Zawraa's management to bet on him.

Since the first day of training in Baghdad and throughout the current camp in Cairo, the coach has imposed a strict regime within the team. He directly informed the players that tardiness or absence from training sessions is a red line, and there will be no leniency on this matter.

Midfielder Amir Abdullah is the first to be affected by the new decisions. The player missed three training sessions in Baghdad and did not join the team's delegation to the camp in Egypt without providing a convincing excuse.

The administration confirmed that these steps aim to "preserve the group's discipline and stability," emphasizing that this season will be different in terms of administrative and technical rigor.

Meanwhile, Al-Zawraa's management has put an end to rumors regarding the future of the player. They clarified in an internal statement that Amir Abdullah is not available for sale or loan to any local club, as he is one of the key options needed by the team for the upcoming season.

It seems that Bassem Qassem has been striving from the outset to establish the principle of "commitment before talent." The message has reached the rest of the players: there is no place for those who do not adhere to the coaching staff's instructions, even if they are key names.