Fazil Abbas Ahmed began his football journey as a boy playing with other children in Erbil’s Setaqan neighborhood. What started as a childhood pastime gradually developed into a distinguished career that took him from local school grounds to Erbil Club, the Iraqi national youth team and some of the country’s leading football clubs.
Abbas credits Najat Abdulwahid and Said Mursal with playing important roles in his development, helping inspire him to pursue football. School sports also provided an important foundation. Elementary schools in Erbil organized strong sporting activities, giving young players opportunities to develop their abilities. Even at an early age, teachers and school staff recognized Abbas’s potential and predicted that he would become a good footballer.
He continued developing his skills in middle school, where he also participated in basketball and track and field. By high school, his sporting abilities had grown, preparing him for the challenges of competitive football.
Abbas’s rise came during the 1970s, a significant period for Kurdish sports. Erbil’s clubs and representative teams achieved notable results, while talented players emerged despite the difficult circumstances of the time. Their commitment and loyalty helped shape a generation that left a lasting mark on the region’s sporting history.
Abbas became one of the prominent players of that generation. His performances for Erbil Club and the Erbil representative team, which competed in the Republic Championship, earned him opportunities beyond the Kurdistan Region. He was selected for Iraq’s youth national team and took part in the Asian Youth Championship in Nepal, where the Iraqi team finished third.
Known for his leadership and composed manner, Abbas became an important player for the teams he represented. He played for Erbil Club from 1979 to 1983 before moving to Al-Jaish and Salahaddin. With Al-Jaish, he won the Iraqi League title in the 1983-84 season.
He returned to Erbil Club for the 1986-87 season and continued playing for the team through the 1990-91 season. He then joined Brayati Club, where he brought his playing career to a close after years of service to the game.
Abbas’s career reflects the development of football in Erbil during a period when local clubs played a central role in identifying and developing talent. His journey, from neighborhood games and school competitions to national youth football and the Iraqi league, stands as part of the history of a generation that helped establish Erbil’s place in Iraqi football.
For supporters who watched him play, the memories of Abbas and his contemporaries remain an enduring connection to an important chapter in the city’s sporting history.
By Zak Amin