Nazar Abdul Zahra facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nazar Abdul Zahra Khalaf | ||
| Date of birth | 1 July 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | Al Ashar, Basra, Iraq | ||
| Date of death | 15 May 2006 (aged 44) | ||
| Place of death | Al Maqal, Basra, Iraq | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1974–1979 | Al Waleed | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980–1993 | Al-Mina'a | (41) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1994–2002 | Al-Mina'a U-16 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Nazar Abdul Zahra Khalaf (Arabic: نزار عبد الزهرة خلف) was an Iraqi football player. He was born on July 1, 1961, and sadly passed away on May 15, 2006. People often called him the "Maradona of Al-Minaa" because he was such a great player. Nazar mostly played as a forward for the Al-Minaa club during his career.
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Playing Football for Al-Mina'a Club
Nazar started playing football in his local area, Al-Ashar. A coach named Jamil Hanoon noticed his talent. In 1980, Nazar joined the Al-Minaa club. He played for this team for many years. He stayed with Al-Minaa until he stopped playing professionally in 1993.
Becoming a Football Coach
After retiring as a player, Nazar decided to become a coach. He worked as an assistant coach. He teamed up with coach Jalil Hanoon again. They were part of the coaching staff for the Al-Minaa U-16 team. They helped the young players achieve good results.
Working as a Team Manager
After some big changes in Iraq around 2003, many former Al-Minaa players met. They wanted to help their old team become strong again. They aimed for the team to be one of the best in the Iraqi Premier League. Nazar was one of these dedicated players. He became the administrative supervisor for the team. During his time as supervisor, the team did very well. They finished as the runner-up in the league. This success also helped them qualify for the AFC Champions League.
Remembering Nazar Abdul Zahra
On May 15, 2006, Nazar Abdul Zahra sadly passed away. This happened after a team training session at Al Mina'a Stadium. The team was getting ready to travel to Kuwait for an important match. They were going to play against Al-Hilal in the 2006 AFC Champions League.
Honoring a Great Player
People have held special events to remember Nazar Abdul Zahra.
- On May 15, 2007, the Al-Minaa Club held a friendly football match. It was played by the club's older, experienced players. This match honored Nazar's memory one year after his passing.
- On March 3, 2013, a sports championship was organized. It was named after Nazar Abdul Zahra and another player, Ali Al-Diwan. The Martyr Al-Hakim Foundation for Youth and Sport helped organize it. The first match was between pioneer players from Al-Zawraa and Al-Minaa. A total of 36 teams took part in this tournament.
