Basim Qasim: Karbala clash is important for us and we aim to win and secure three points

Al-Zawraa held a press conference today at the team's hotel in Najaf to discuss tomorrow's match against their hosts Karbala at Najaf International Stadium, as part of the second round of the Iraqi Premier League.

The head coach Bassem Qassem and defender Masis Jack attended the conference to discuss the team's readiness and match objectives.

Coach Bassem Qassem began his talk by emphasizing the importance of the match, stating:

"Tomorrow's match is a turning point for us. Our draw in the first round against Al-Minaa at home was not the result we wanted. Today we came to Najaf early to prepare well, and our goal is clear: to return to Baghdad with only three points."

The veteran coach added:

*"We have great respect for Karbala Club. They are an organized team, having made a strong return to the league and drawing with Al-Shorta on their home ground. They have outstanding young players and fight for every ball. However, Al-Zawraa must show the character of champions, even if the match is away from our ground."

Regarding the reasons for the draw in the last round, he explained:

*"We created many chances against Al-Mina, but luck was absent in the final touch. We have been working on the psychological and offensive aspects over the past few days. The players know the magnitude of the responsibility, and our motto tomorrow is to play with a fighting spirit until the last minute."

Qassem concluded:

"The fans expect a reaction from us, and we promise them they will see a different Zawraa tomorrow. We are not just looking for performance; we are looking for the result. The three points will restore our confidence early."

Masiss Jack spoke about the team's atmosphere and the preparations of the backline for the upcoming match.

He said:

*"The match page against Al-Mina has been completely turned. As defenders, we bear part of the responsibility because we did not keep a clean sheet even though we did not concede any goals, but we also did not help the attack sufficiently in building the play"*.

The player continued:

"Karbala are a fast team and rely on counter-attacks. We saw their match against Al-Shorta. They have forwards who move well without the ball. Our task tomorrow is to close all the spaces and help the midfield in bringing the ball out from the back."

Regarding playing in Najaf instead of Karbala, he commented:

*"The pitch does not matter to us. Whether we play in Najaf, Karbala, or Baghdad, the Al-Zawraa shirt is heavy. We play for the badge and the fans who support us even away from home"*.

Masis concluded:

"We promise the fans to see a fight for every ball. If we maintain our focus for 90 minutes, we will achieve what we want."

The match will take place at 6 PM Baghdad time at Najaf International Stadium, after Karbala FC chose to play there due to maintenance work at their own stadium.

Al-Zawraa are looking for their first win after a goalless draw in the opening round, while Karbala aim to continue their positive results following a 1-1 draw with Al-Shorta.