Year: 2014

Team Melli routs Platinum Stars 6-0

Team Melli defeated Platinum Stars 6-0 in its final preparation match of its training camp in Johannesburg , South Africa.

Mohammad Nouri scored a hat trick, while Habib Gordani, Masoud Hassanzadeh, and Sajjad Shahbazadeh scored a goal each to complete the rout against the bottom of the table South African First Division team . Platinum Stars played a league match on Saturday against Free State Stars and lost 3-1. For the match against Team Melli , mostly reserve players were utilized by the struggling South african team.

South-Africa-friendly-ornado-pirates-2

This match concludes the weak and low-key preparations by Team Melli in South Africa.  While almost all the legionnaires who are expected to form the bulk of the team line up are absent , except for Azmoun, the federation failed to arrange any quality opposition to test these players against strong teams which Iran will be facing in Australia. The 3 breadcrumb friendlies were mostly due to personal contacts of Carlos Queiroz , however none of the South African clubs were prepared to field their strongest side due to league programs commitments and the upcoming festive seasons holidays.

Team Melli is scheduled to return to Tehran on December 24th. The next friendly before the AFC Asian Cup 2015 will be against Palestine.

South-Africa-friendly-ornado-pirates-1

Second win for Team Melli against Pirates reserves

 Team Melli defeated Orlando Pirates’ reserves 3-1 in a friendly in Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday.

The Sepahan contingent managed to score all the goals of Team Melli in the match. Ehsan Hajsafi was on target twice in the 47th and 70th minutes helping himself to a brace while Mehdi Sharifi scored in the 61st minute.

Orlando Pirates pulled a goal back in the 75th minute. A group of about 30 Iranians mostly families residing in Johannesburg attended the match to cheer for Iran.

Team Melli was held 3-3 against the South African football club in April as part of the preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

Iran had defeated Kaizer Chiefs reserves 2-0 on Wednesday.

The Asian Cup will kick off in Australia on January 9, with Iran playing Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE in Group C.

Team Melli is scheduled to play against Palestine on December 28 in Tehran before departing to Australia. Team Melli will meet Iraq in another friendly in Australia six days before their opening match against Bahrain.

Iran U17 defeated by the Italians

Team Melli U17 lost the friendly match against the Italian counterpart 4-1 in the match played today at Dastgerdi Stadium in Tehran.  The match  was part of the cooperation protocol signed by the two federations in which several exchanges have been arranged.  

The Italian team coached by Bruno Tedino went ahead on 25′ of the first half thanks to a penalty kick by  Llamas Acuna, and eight minutes later  Cutrone scored to make it  2-0 for the guests. In the second half  (two 45-minute halves were played) Giraudo scored the third goal on 30′; on 38′ Reza Shekari scored Iran’s only goal from a header but on 48′ Cutrone, who scored two goals, set the final result at 4-1.

Iran U17 team is coached by Hamid Alidousti.

In the post match interview , the Italian coach stated that “match against the Iranian team was a good test in light of the Elite Phase of the European Championships that will see Italy play from March 21st to the 26th, against the home team, Germany, Slovakia and Ukraine.”

Amir Hossein Peyrovani who is the head coach of the youth teams, said that it was an honor and a great experience playing against such a powerful team “When you playing against footballers from AC Milan , Juventus , Inter Milan , you know that you are facing the best. It as a great experience for us. Unfortunately we have been quite behind in our preparations and did not have adequate time to prepare !”

Peyrovani added that although the defeat was heavy , he did not think that the differences of the standards between the two teams was 3 goals. 

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Italy U17 Squad

Goalkeepers : Cucchietti (Turin), Donnarumma (Milan);
Defenders : Giraudo (Turin), Llamas Acuna (Milan), Malberti (Milan), Mattioli (Inter), Nicoletti (Crotone), Scalera (Bari), Vogliacco (Juventus);
Midfielders : Onion (Parma), Degl’Innocenti (Fiorentina), Gasperoni (Cesena), Locatelli (Milan), Melegoni (Atalanta);
Forwards : Lo Faso (Palermo), Mazzocchi (Atalanta), Scamacca (Rome).

Italy U17 national team

Sadegh Droodgar urges Khakpour to step down.

The ex-CEO of Malavan Anzali,   Sadegh Droodgar who has worked with Mohammad Khakpour in Saipa , has urged the recently appointed Head Coach of Omid Team to step down to maintain his integrity and save his reputation.

In an open letter to Khakpour, Droodgar said that the fate of Omid team which carries hope of 80 million Iranians is NOT the right place for gaining experience. In this unique letter, Ddroodgar who has a long career in administrative jobs including as recently, an executive committee member of the FFIRI, said  “This responsivity requires the most experienced, the most knowledgeable and a veteran professional coach.  Although I do not doubt your knowledge and dedication, I ask you this question. If you were in a position of responsibility that requires you to deliver the dream that has lasted for 4 decades, wouldn’t you select the most experienced and the most capable, battle hardened coach to deliver this dream?”  

“I am speaking with you as I know that you are a man of honesty and integrity. You are well aware of the circumstances surrounding this federation, its failures, frailties, outside interferences and lack of resources. It is those misfortunes that has led this federation in a hasty decision-making process and left it handicapped fearing public and media backlash. I am speaking to your conscious. As a person who has repeatedly expressed your concerns about injustice, inequality and nepotism of this football.  It is in this sense that I am questioning how would you take a serious responsibility without having the proper credentials & qualifications for it. I am sure you would have been ideal as a team manager of Omid Team but by taking the full responsibility of coaching, you are really doing an injustice to yourself and the football of this proud nation.”

“The decision to appoint you by the federation was done on haste, lack of vision, confusion amongst other adversities. You are an asset of this country and have a great future. Do not burn it this early and this easily in the first step. This football can be cruel to our national heroes like Amir Ghalenboei and Ali Daei have already experienced at Team Melli. Perhaps their fate this should have been a reality check and an eye opener for our aspiring young national coaches.”

“Do the honorable, and allow someone with much more experience to take the responsibility and carry hope of this nation to fulfill a 40 years long dream.”

 Sadegh Droodgar is reflecting many observers and veterans who are shocked by this appointment.

Team Melli to play against Kaizer Chiefs FC reserves.

Team Melli will be playing its first practice match against the Kaizer Chiefs FC of Johannesburg on Wednesday 17th December. The announcement came from the FFIRI website which has reported the game to be held in the Kaizer Chiefs FC stadium. The runaway league leader which has defeated Free State Stars 2-1 in a league match today (Tuesday) in Johannesburg, is very unlikely to field any of the first team players for the match against Team Melli.

The match should be an easy practice against the reserve of Kaizer Chiefs giving Team Melli some change from pure training without competition. The match will be played at 10 in the morning.

Team Melli is on its second day of training, mostly focused around physical build up and endurance training.

No other matches are scheduled for the 10 days camp

 

Ando & Ghafoori at lunch
Ando & Ghafoori at lunch
The new faces of Team Melli
The new faces of Team Melli
Heydari, Ali Karimi and Teymourian
Heydari, Ali Karimi and Teymourian

Sajjadi “We will pursue Queiroz, if evidence is presented!”

Deputy Minister of Youth Sports said “if evidence is presented against Carlos Queiroz violating our values, we will deal with him as we did with others!”

The veiled threat to the Portuguese coach came in the aftermath of the public prosecution of Zlatko Kranjcar, in which the ministry of youth & Sport has accused the Croat coach of consuming alcohol in players’ dressing room!

Nassrollah Sajjadi, like his boss Goudarzi , who has not made any great attempts to conceal his contempt towards football , starting from Kaffashian and his administration to the footballers and coaches in club and Team Melli, has once again wielded the sword of threat. Not only this ministry has said little to praise anyone related to football, it has consistently been hostile and hardly screened their disapproval of Carlos Queirroz and Zlatko Kranjcar.

Sepahan CEO Merhrzad Khalilian with Zlatko Krajncar

The Ministry of Youth & Sports has been widely criticized and ridiculed for their narrow-minded and immoral way they dealt with Kranjcar in which the most basic of human rights has been disregarded by a Ministry. One of the sharpest reaction was that of the Sepahan CEO Mehrzad Khalilian who called the accusation that Kranjcar consumed alcohol in his team’s dressing room as fabricated , fraudulent and uncivilized. Even the government supporting media has been vocal in their criticism of a Ministry that has installed itself as the judge, the jury and executioner of morality cases thereby over-stepping its authority that is the function and responsibility of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic.

After that episode with Kranjcar, while being reminded about the cultural differences of foreign coaches , the Ministry to be seen as applying their own version of law on everyone, now is in pursuit of Carlos Queiroz for the same reasons as Kranjcar!

As if the never ending problems with Team Melli ahead of the Asian Cup are not enough, now Queiroz has to deal with this side issue and this lot!

Masoud Shojaei scores a rare hat trick.

Doha

Masoud Shojaei , playing for Al Shahaniya in Qatar Star League QSL scored a rare career hat trick to help his team defeat the 10 man Al Sadd and current league  leader 3 – 1.

Team Melli winger Shojaei who was unable to find a Spanish club after his last club Las Palmas did not renew his contract following a poor season, eventually ended up in Qatar with the newly promoted team from the second division. Up to Sunday’s match against Al Sadd, Shojaei has managed to score one goal only in 12 matches. He has now 4 goals in total.

Masoud Shojaei has been one of the weaker performers in Team Melli matches. However; despite his lackluster displays , Shojaei has always been favored by Queiroz who has a much higher regards and respect for players who play outside Iran, especially Europe. Shojaei has been booed regularly at Azadi when playing for Team Melli due to his marginal form.   His lack of goals in Al Shahaniya has prompted the lowly team to look for an alternative striker from North Africa and Brazil to join the team in the January window. It is not known if this hat trick has changed the AL Shahaniya managements’ mind.

Masoud Shojaei seemed to have a found new lease of life just about the right time for himself and Team Melli with about a month to go for the AFC Asian Cup 2015. Shojaei’s compatriot Mehrdad Pooladi , currently not able to play for Iran , is also playing for the QSL team. Al Shahaniya is still near the bottom of the league and in danger of a quick return to the second division of Qatar league after one season only in top flight. Al Shahaniya has 12 points from 14 matches in the 13th position of the 14 team league.

5th consecutive Asian Cup for Nekounam and approaching record.

Team Melli Captain, Javad Nekounam is on the brink of breaking a record of total match played for Team Melli. The current record holder is Ali Daei with 149 match appearances, while the Osasuna Captain is lagging behind by 2 matches with 147.

The next competition that Nekounam can equal or overtake Daei record is the AFC Asian Cup 2015 in Australia. Barring any surprises or injuries, Nekounam is assured at least the 3 matches he requires to take the all time record of matches. This will also be a record breaking 5th consecutive AFC Asian Cup appearance for Nekounam who played in the 2000 edition of Asian cup in Lebanon.  Javad Nekounam ( 34 years) made his debut for Team Melli against Syria on the 28th May 2000 at the age of 20 when he was a Pas Tehran player. Jalal Talebi was Team Melli coach who gave Nekounam his debut. For the next 14 years, the midfielder ‘s name was ever present in the list of Team Melli , with a character and performances which made it easy for the various Team Melli coaches to pick him.

Unlike many of his contemporaries , Nekounam kept a steady form , high level of discipline and avoided side issues and problems off the field. Despite being on the same age group of Ali Karimi , and Mehdi Mahdavikia, both household names in Iran and well-known beyond the national border , Nekounam managed to easily overtake both in number of matches played for Team Melli. while the Karimi was busy involving himself in all types of disputes and trouble making that kept him away from Team Melli on several occasions , Nekounam simply pressed on. Mahdavikia , on the other hand, suffered from the fact that he played in Germany which restricted his number of games especially the friendly matches.

In the list of top players who played 50 matches or more, the only player that seem likely to overtake both Daei and Nekounam , is Sepahan’s Ehsan Hajsafy. The young player is going from strength to strength with some wonderful performances. His consistency and discipline is exemplary and that should allow him . like Nekounam , to be on the selection list of Team Melli for many years to come.

TEAM MELLI

LIST OF TOP APPEARANCES

TeamMelli-caps

 

Zimbabwe friendly match turned down.

As part of the preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2015 , the FFIRI seemed to have arranged a rare friendly match with Zimbabwe in Tehran. However , for reasons that are only known to the federation , this friendly like many others in the last few years has been cancelled. It is presumed , it must have something to do with money or lack of it by the federation.

On hearing that Iran is setting a training camp next door in South Africa, and to compensate for the cancelled match in Azadi , the Zimbabwe Football Federation wrote to its Iranian counterpart offering an alternative by  suggesting a friendly match in Johannesburg on 22nd December, as reported by ISNA. The Zimbabweans stated in the letter that it will forgo the standard match fees but needs the Iranians to pay for the logistics of the squad only (Air fare and Hotel accommodations) , FFIRI calculated the amount to be approximately US$ 40,000 which it considers to be excessive and above its capability , hence it declined the offer from the African country.

FFIRI is actively looking at South African sides for friendly matches at the camp provided it costs nothing or a small fee at best.