Basim Qasim: Our team is ready and we aim to secure all three points

Al-Zawraa's coach Basim Qasim and star player Hassan Abdul-Karim spoke hours before their match against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya tomorrow, Thursday, at Karbala International Stadium in the seventh round of the Iraq Stars League.

Bassem Qassem said at the press conference ahead of the match: "The match against Al Quwa Al Jawiya always has a special character. It is a popular match and does not depend on league positions or points. We respect the opponent a lot because they are a big team and have outstanding players."

He added: "The team got into the match atmosphere early. We achieved an important victory over Al-Kahrabaa and raised our tally to 12 points, which gives us a morale boost. Our players know the size of the responsibility and we understand that winning will bring us closer to the top."

He concluded: "The keys to victory lie in maintaining focus for the full 90 minutes and taking advantage of opportunities. Al Quwa Al Jawiya are a tough team, but we are ready for every scenario."

For his part, Al-Zawraa's midfielder Hassan Abdulkarim stated: "The classic has different calculations. Every player enters the match knowing that it cannot end in a draw."

He said: "We have delivered good performances in the past rounds and we top the list for the strongest attack in the league with 12 goals. This gives us confidence, but the most important thing is to continue with the same mentality."

Qasim added: "We are playing in front of a large crowd in Karbala and we want to gift them three new points. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya is a respectable team, but there are no friendships on the pitch. Our goal is clear, which is to win and make Al-Zawraa's fans happy."

He concluded: "We know that the match will be difficult and tight, and the small details will decide it. We are ready mentally and physically."

Al-Zawraa sit in second place with 12 points, while Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya are looking to secure their second win of the season after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Karbala.