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Kurdistan's Football 'soccer' league
launched
15.1.2006
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Massoud Barzani, president of the regional Kurdish
government in South-Kurdistan (Northren Federal
Iraq), has announced the launch of Kurdistan's own
soccer league (Football) as an alternative to the
Iraqi League. Kurdistan’s minister of sports said he
want to work together with Turkey
Twelve teams hailing from the heavily Kurdish cities
of Arbil, Kirkuk, Dohuk and Suleimaniyah will
compete in the league, with some teams some
sponsored by foreign companies like Siemens. The
twelve teams in the league are Brusk, Arbil, Dohuk,
Ararat, Kirkuk, Dasnia, Aso, Matin, Pashmarga,
Pashkaftin, Jihan and Handren. A Kurdistan Cup, in
which Kurdish teams will compete will be held in the
South-Kurdistan in the near future. A national
Kurdish team has also been established.
Speaking to the Turkish news agency IHA, Kurdistan's
Minister of Sports Javdat Najar said they had
decided to establish the league after Kurdish teams
found they were being treated unfairly in the Iraqi
League. He said in Turkish, "Federalism is being
considered for the Kurdistan region after the new
national government is formed. As a ministry, we
established the Kurdistan Soccer League as part of
federalism. Kurdish teams were being treated
unfairly in the Iraqi League. For instance, Erbil
had a chance to play in the Asian League last year,
but the Arabs did not allow them to play."
Najar added, "The Kurdistan Soccer League has three
parts. The premier league has twelve teams like
Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Kirkuk, Dohuk and Zakho. Our
government provides US$10,000 per month to each
team."
Speaking of the newly formed Kurdish national team,
he said, "We played our first national matches
against the South Korean Army and Police teams. We
were defeated in both games but what matters for us
is for the team to play matches abroad."
Najar said the team wanted to play against foreign
teams like Turkey and other neighboring countries.
He added, "We want Turkey to help us. We want to
improve the team with Turkey's help. We aim to play
against Turkish teams like Fenerbahce, Galatasaray,
Besiktas and Diyarbakir. There was a match scheduled
between Erbil FC and Turkish Diyarbakirspor, but
political developments cancelled the game."
He added, "Turkish soccer has shown significant
improvement in recent years, so we want to see a
Turkish coach taking the helm of the team. We want
to work with Tanju Colak from Turkey. He was a great
player. If we prepare our team better, we can offer
him the job."
Najar also said, "If federalism is granted to
Kurdistan, we will apply to FIFA to play in
international tournaments. We are located in Asia
but we want to play in the European Football
Championship. We are preparing for international
games."
Najar said they had asked world-renowned teams to
hold a soccer tournament in Iraq, adding, "Some
friends in Europe have held talks with Real Madrid
for a soccer school in Erbil, but the Spanish club
has not made an official statement about it yet. We
hope to see Real Madrid or Turkish teams like
Fenerbahce and Galatasaray opening soccer schools in
Kurdish cities."
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