Akkad Ankawa steps up preparations for Iraqi Clubs Championship with friendly against defending champions

ERBIL — The Akkad Ankawa women’s basketball team is ramping up preparations for the upcoming Iraqi Clubs Championship, playing a friendly match against reigning champions Gas Al-Shimal as it eyes a ninth national title.

The team, based in the predominantly Christian Ankawa district of Erbil, has previously won the championship eight times. With this year’s tournament expected to begin in August — though the Iraqi Basketball Federation has yet to confirm the exact date — Akkad is aiming to start strong.

“We played this friendly match after Gas Al-Shimal Club requested it ahead of the tournament scheduled for August,” said Mueid Sliwa, Akkad’s team supervisor. “Our preparations are ongoing, and we aim to start strong and compete for the championship next season.”

Emy Raad, a player for Akkad, said the team trains six days a week and noted that this year’s competition will differ from previous editions. “We played a good match against Gas Al-Shimal, and our training continues to compete for the title in next month’s championship,” she said. Raad added that most participating clubs are expected to rely heavily on local players this season.

Gas Al-Shimal, meanwhile, will be entering the tournament with a youthful roster, according to coach Rizgar Mohammed. “Most of our players are currently busy with sixth-grade exams and could not join the team,” he told 964media. Only two senior players are expected to feature alongside a squad made up largely of younger athletes.

Mohammed criticized the limited structure of Iraq’s women’s basketball calendar. “We only have one tournament per year lasting a single month, and no competitions for the rest of the year. This significantly affects player performance,” he said, urging the Iraqi Basketball Federation to establish junior and youth leagues to foster long-term development of the women’s game.