No margin for error as Kazma locks horns with Erbil

Kazma holds its final training session.

BAGHDAD, Nov 3: Kazma faces a crucial test when it visits Iraq’s Erbil at 8:00 pm on Wednesday at Franso Hariri Stadium in the third round of Group C in the Gulf Club Champions League, as the Orange seeks its first points of the campaign. The other group match pits Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq against UAE side Ajman.

Ajman tops the standings with six points, followed by Erbil and Al-Ettifaq, who have three points each. Kazma is at the bottom of the group without a point.

The Orange is desperate for victory to revive its hopes of reaching the quarterfinals and get its campaign back on track.

According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the quarterfinals.

Coach Dragan Tadic is aware that his team must respond after a disappointing start, having suffered consecutive defeats in its opening two matches. Kazma lost 2-0 to Al-Ettifaq before falling 2-1 to Ajman.

Kazma will be without Algerian defender Idris Al-Shaibi, who is suspended, and Brazilian striker Patrick Robson, who is recovering from a broken hand. However, Tadic still has several experienced options capable of helping the team turn things around.

Bader Tareq, Khaled Shaman, Shabib Al-Khaldi, Sultan Al-Enezi, Meshaal Al-Shammari, Nasser Faleh and Abdullah Ghanem are among the players expected to shoulder responsibility, alongside foreign professionals Torles Knoll of Germany, Yemen’s Nasser Mohammedou and Senegal’s Amath Ndao.

An Omani refereeing team will oversee the match, with Saeed Al-Muzaini as the main referee and Hamad Al-Ghafri and Hamoud Al-Shaibi as assistants. Bahrain’s Mohammed Mik Juma will serve as fourth official, while compatriot Ahmed Khalil will be in charge of VAR.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff