Zakho Club Launches Training Camp
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Zakho Football Club has begun a five-day training camp in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, as part of its preparations for the upcoming Iraq Stars League season
The camp, which opened this week, forms the first stage of Zakho’s pre-season program before the team departs for Turkey at the end of August to continue training and play additional friendly matches.
The camp follows a period of squad reshuffling, during which Zakho finalized the transfer of several new players and appointed a new head coach.
Team supervisor Hamid Ismail told Kurdistan24 that the Erbil camp is scheduled to run until August 31, after which the squad will travel to Turkey to play several preparatory fixtures.
“This camp is essential to maintain the momentum of our preparations,” Ismail explained. “The Turkish leg will allow the team to test its new signings in international friendlies before the league begins.”
New signing Sherko Karim spoke to Kurdistan24 about the team’s morale, stressing that recent visits from international football figures, including Graham Arnold, had boosted motivation among the squad.
“During Arnold’s visit to our training facilities in Zakho, he spoke with many of the players. His guidance left a strong impression, and we feel more determined to prove ourselves this season,” Karim said.
As part of its pre-season buildup, Zakho is set to play a friendly match on Thursday, August 28, 2025, against Karkh Club at Erbil’s Brayati Stadium. The match will test the tactical adjustments introduced by the new coach and provide an early preview of the team’s form ahead of the competitive season.
The Iraq Stars League, formerly known as the Iraqi Premier League, represents the highest level of football in Iraq, contested by 20 professional clubs under the governance of the Iraqi Pro League Association.
Formed in 1974 as the first national league of clubs in Iraq, the competition was rebranded in 2023 as the Iraq Stars League, transitioning fully into a professional format. Each season sees the 20 clubs play 38 matches (home and away), totaling 380 fixtures.
In June 2023, the Iraq Football Association (IFA) signed a three-year partnership with Spain’s LaLiga to professionalize Iraqi football. Under this agreement, LaLiga provides technical assistance, management training, and development strategies, ensuring that the league meets Asian Football Confederation (AFC) licensing standards.
The rebranded Stars League officially launched on October 26, 2023, and is regarded as a turning point in modernizing Iraqi football, with the long-term aim of aligning domestic competition with international professional standards.
For Zakho, the Erbil camp and subsequent Turkish tour are pivotal steps in preparing for the new season under the Stars League’s evolving structure. With a refreshed squad, international exposure, and enhanced professional standards, the club aims to strengthen its competitive standing in one of the region’s most dynamic football competitions.
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