Baghdad, Sheikh “Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani”, President of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation, presented his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Iraqi government headed by Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, and to the Iraqi people, and to Ahmed Al-Mubarqa, the Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports, and the Engineer Asaad Al-Eidani, Governor of Basra, and Adnan Darjal, Head of the Iraqi Football Association, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for Gulf 25, for the warm reception and hospitality, and for the efforts made by everyone to organize Gulf 25 in Basra.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani praised the 25th Gulf Championship in Basra, and the impressive opening ceremony that we witnessed at the Basra International Stadium, and the wonderful historical and artistic passages it contained. He also praised the organizational aspects carried out by the organizing committee of the tournament and the Iraqi Football Association, in for this tournament from all sides.
He said: We are aware that all tournaments in the world have negatives and positives, but the positives are always reinforced and solutions are developed for the negatives in order not to recur, and we hope everyone does not pay attention to the negatives and try to avoid them to support the Iraqi Football Association.
He added: The technical start was of a mediocre level, and did not reach the required level, and this is normal with the start of each tournament, and we hope in the upcoming rounds that the technical level will be higher by all the Gulf teams.
The President of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation praised the Iraqi fans, whom we consider the main supporter of the tournament, and who were keen to attend all the matches, whether they were held in the Basra stadium or Al-Mina stadium, and this is evidence of the Iraqi fans’ love for the football game.
He continued: There is a general conference that will be held on January 13, 2023, to consult with the heads of the eight Gulf federations on ways that lead to developing the work of the Gulf federation and Gulf football in general, with God willing.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency