Bassem Qassim: This is the beginning of the road and the fans deserve more

Al Zawraa's coach Basim Qassim and player Mohammed Qassim spoke after a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Zakho last night at Al Zawraa Stadium, in the fourth round of the Iraq Stars League.

The win lifted Al Zawraa to 8 points at the top of the table temporarily, sending a strong message to the other competitors.

Coach Basim Qassim appeared happy but warned against overexcitement, stressing that the team is still at the beginning of its journey.

Qassim said at the press conference:

"I congratulate the players and the fans on this great and deserved victory. The players entered the match with high concentration and executed all the instructions to the letter."

He added:

"We pressed from the start and took advantage of the opponent's mistakes. The ball circulation was excellent, and this deprived Zakho of any danger. I am proud of the players' fighting spirit throughout the 90 minutes."

Qassim addressed the factor of the fans:

"The crowd today was amazing. The stadium was full and the noise never stopped. This support is what gives us strength. We promise them that we will continue and fight to make them happy."

The coach concluded:

"We do not want to get carried away. We won today, but the next challenge is tougher. Our goal is consistency and improving performance. We have a lot of work to do to reach the level we want."

Mohammed Qassim, the scorer of the first goal in the match, spoke about the encounter and the team's atmosphere.

Qassim said:

"Thank God for the victory. We dedicate this goal and these three points to the great Al Zawraa fans who attended and supported us from the first minute."

The midfielder star added:

"We entered the match with a winning mentality only. We knew that Zakho is a special team, but we were the better side and deserved the result. The previous win against Naft Maysan gave us a big boost, without a doubt."

Regarding his personal goal, he said:

"The most important thing is the team's victory. The goal is just a step. We work as one group and everyone fights for the badge."

Mohammed Qassim concluded:

"Being at the top today means nothing. The league is long and the competition has just begun. We will close the file on this match and think about the next encounter."