Talal Al-Balushi officially announces his resignation from coaching Zakho

In a dramatic turn of events in the Iraq Stars League, Qatari coach Talal Al-Balushi has officially announced his departure from the helm of Zakho after a short stint since taking over from Frenchman Lorran Panid. This leaves the management of the team racing against time to find a new head coach who can restore balance to the squad during the current season 2026-2027.

The decision regarding Al-Balushi came after Zakho's heavy defeat on Thursday evening against Al-Kahrbaa, with a score of 1-2 at the Al Zawraa Stadium in the capital Baghdad, in the 13th round. This marks the team's sixth loss this season, revealing the extent of the technical and mental issues the team is suffering from.

In an emotional press conference filled with sorrow and reproach, Talal Al-Balushi opened his heart to the sports media after the match, confirming a clear shortcoming from some names on the pitch.

Al-Balushi said with a tone of regret:

"There is a great sadness, to be honest, as some players did not deliver what they should have for the club's badge or even for their own names. I wish them better luck and congratulate Al-Kahrbaa on their victory. Football rewards those who give it, and those who strive and fight on the pitch deserve to get the result."

He added, explaining the challenges he faced during his short career:

"We are going through a very difficult phase with the team and we have tried hard to restore stability. We achieved a win and a draw, but we also faced a loss. However, the team still needs a lot of work, extra effort, and new blood. I have been honest and direct with the club president from the beginning and informed him of the necessity to exclude some names in the past period, but the management preferred to postpone this matter until the next transfer window opens."

The Qatari coach revealed a serious aspect that directly affected the players' performance in the recent encounter against Al-Kahrbaa, stating:

"There is another factor that clearly affected the course of the match, which is the leak of news about my departure from the team to some players before the match, and perhaps that was a main reason for their failure to deliver the expected level and effort on the pitch. Certainly, there are names that did not hold back and fulfilled their duty honestly, but we are talking about a system and a complete team. This is football, and I hope that the course will correct itself in the coming days."

Al-Balushi returned to lead Zakho in August, but his second stint was not successful among the fans and management. He managed the team in 9 official matches, achieving only 2 victories alongside 3 draws and 4 defeats. His attack scored 6 goals while the defense conceded 9.