New season starts on 14 September. Check out my preview and predictions for the season! http://socceriraq.net/2018/09/09/2018-19-iraqi-premier-league-preview-and-predictions/
Ali Adnan with a last minute assist to earn his team a point! https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=455808161629092
Amazing season for us! 6 titles and a place in the AFC CL group stage, can't wait for next season already. Also I believe we will participate in the Arab Club Cup as well.
There's currently a big discussion about the titles of the Iraqi league before 1974, not sure how much you guys know about it but it's very interesting to me. The league before 1974 was only for Baghdad based teams and Jawiya and Shorta fans are arguing that these titles should be counted the same as Iraqi league titles, I think Jawiya won 6 and Shorta won 5 during that time. Personally I don't think it would be right to do so seeing as the titles were only regional and there were other championships in other cities in Iraq. But at the same time it does feel like those championships just get forgotten about, nearly 30 years of Iraqi club football and legendary players like Ammo Baba and Abid Kadhim and it just seems like their achievements were for nothing. Perhaps there will be a middle ground in recognising these titles somehow.
I hope that Shorta FA will invest in good players and coach. Zawraa showed us that stability is much needed if you want to advance to the knockout stage.
I think we should be able to attract good players, we are one of the most stable clubs in the league and of course the players want to participate in Asia to raise their profile. I have no idea who will be the coach, perhaps another foreign coach as I think the current coach Nebojsa is leaving to sign with a Tunisian team. Also hopefully we will get a good draw, Zawraa's group was a lot easier than some of the other groups if I remember right. An Iraqi club in the knockout stage would be a big big step forward for Iraqi football.