Year: 2014

Olympic team coach start delayed due to legal complications.

Nelo Vingada, the Olympic team head coach was supposed to have started work with the Olympics squad preparing for the competitions ahead especially the Asian Games 2014 Incheon. However , the Portuguese coach has hit a snag.

Explaining the delay in Vingada’s commencement of work with the Olympics team, the Deputy head of the FFIRI , Seyed Hadi Ayttollahei said ” Because of Vingada’s previous stint as the head coach of Persepolis , there is some outstanding taxes that have not been paid. When we reviews the contract between the two parties, it clearly stipulates that Vingada had a two year contract with Persepolis and all taxes for the two years period should have been paid to the government on signing the contract by the club. Therefore Persepolis should have respected this clause and paid its due. This did not happen. Vingada only stayed 5 months with Persepolis and left. The Managers of Persepolis failed to clear the taxes issues and did not contact the appropriate authorities to resolve the issue. Now, the liabilities are even greater, because there is a penalty for non-payment and delays which will cost the club dearly. Persepolis have been very lax  and complacent and this has resulted in issues with Vingada’s current work permit and legal status”

“Unless Persepolis resolves this tax issue with the authorities, Vingada cannot commence his work in Iran. We urge Persepolis to act fast as delays will affect our preparation for the Asian Games.”

Currently , the squad is training under Human Afazeli who is working as a caretaker until the arrival of Vingada.

As if Persepolis does not have enough financial problems , this one regarding Vingada’s tax non-payment , is  added on the rest the club’s complex and crippling financial issues.  Persepolis, one of the most popular teams in Iran , has been struggling to pay it debts , wages , hotel bills and many outstanding bills accumulated through the years. Persepolis has up to today to pay Ajman club for Khalatbary’s remaining transfer fee, else the UAE club will file a suit with FIFA, and finally the tax man in Iran is in hot pursuit of the club for non-payment of many taxes.

 

Team Melli departs to South Africa with 11 players

Tehran.

Carlos Queiroz took a total of 11 players with him to South Africa for the scheduled training camp leaving behind all the players of the 4 Iranian clubs competing in the AFC Champion League.

The squad left on the early morning flight after much deliberation whether the camp should go ahead with such limited numbers.  Although no official statement has been issued on the status of the camp , it is believed that the rest of the players will eventually link up with the team.

Team Melli is supposed to play 4 friendly matches with undisclosed teams.

Majid Saleh the recently appointed assistant coach did not join the squad on the flight to South Africa as he is applying for Austrian visa for the next Team Melli camp.

22 players missing from Team Melli group heading to South Africa.

Tehran 14 Apr. 2014

With less than hours to go for the flight to Dubai then Johannesburg, South Africa, Team Melli seems to be in doldrums.   The 28 players squad should be gathering and ready for the flight but the status of 22 out of 28 is not clear yet.

5 months after it surfaced that Team Melli plans to conduct a training camp in the midst of AFC Champions League competition, and the crucial part of it for that matter , the federation is facing a dilemma now. Constantly quizzed by reporters on what is the final verdict on the players at the crossroads of club and country duties, the federation , the management and the coaches of the team have al;l evaded and refused to answer , thinking that the problem will go way once it is ignored !

Now , at a critical time , only 6 players can be accounted for to be in the plane to South Africa. These are Ale Nemeh , Nourozi (Naft Tehran), Ansarifard , Lak (Tractorsazi), Haddadifar and Khanzadeh (Zob Ahan)

Out of the four Iranian teams in the AFC Champions league , only Tractorsazi will allow their two players to be relived from club commitments to join Team Melli squad. The 3 other teams , Foolad Khuzestan (2 players), Esteghlal (4 players)  and Sepahan (6 players) who all have chances to qualify , have refused to release their players. That is a total of 12 players that have not confirmed their attendance. While Persepolis has the largest number selected , 7 players and the club is not involved in any competition , all their players are under investigation into  tax evasion and hence are not allowed to leave the country!

To top all these problems, Kaffashian and his deputy are both in Kuala Lumpur attending a meeting.  The only official of the federation available for comment was Mr. Amir Hossein Hosseini , the media officer who had little to offer on the situation except to say that “the Disciplinary committee will have to deal with all those absentees.”. That would be a fine solution for Iran, suspending 22  Team Melli players !!!

In hindsight, Carlos Queiroz has indicated a sometime ago , that to conduct a training camp in South Africa with so many players absent , missing or unable to join the squad is a meaningless exercise. But Kaffashian was adamant that the plan will go on as a gesture of defiance, more than anything else, showing off the ability of the federation to carry out its commitment especially after the fiasco of cancelling the Portugal camp because of lack of funds.

Faced with a true dilemma, it will be interesting to note how many players actually make the trip in the next few hours. We are not sure what sort of pressure will be exerted by the FFIRI or the clubs on the players, but one thing that we are sure of, is the inability and the incompetence that is continually shown by this football administration and its failure to competently deal with the complications of Iranian football.

 

LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS

 

  Name Club League
1 JABBARI, Mojtaba Al Arabi  Qatar
2 BEIGZADEH, Hashim Esteghlal  
3 HEYDARI, Khosrow Esteghlal  
4 SADEGHI, AmirHossein Esteghlal  
5 TEYMOURIAN, Andranik Esteghlal  
6 JAMAATI, Mehrdad Foolad Khuzestan  
7 MAKANI, Sousha Foolad Khuzestan  
8 RAHMANI, Bakhtiyar Foolad Khuzestan  
9 ALE NEMEH, Ahmad Naft Tehran  
10 NOUROZI, Reza Naft Tehran  
11 HAGHIGHI, Reza Persepolis  
12 HOSSEINI, Jalal Persepolis  
13 KHALATBARY, MohamadReza Persepolis  
14 MAHINI, Hossein Persepolis  
15 MOSALLMAN , Mohsen Persepolis  
16 POOLADI, Mehrdad Persepolis  
17 SADEGHIAN, Payam Persepolis  
18 AHMADI, Rahman Sepahan  
19 EBRAHIMI, Omid Sepahan  
20 HAJSAFY, Ehsan Sepahan  
21 KARIMI, Yaghoub Sepahan  
22 KHALILZADEH, Shojaa Sepahan  
23 SHARIFI , Mehdi Sepahan  
24 ANSARIFARD, Karim Tractorsazi  
25 LAK , Hamed Tractorsazi  
35 MONTAZERI, Pejman Um Salal Qatar
26 HADDADIFAR, Ghassim Zob Ahan  
27 KHANZADEH, Mohammadreza Zob Ahan  
28 NEKOUNAM, Javad Al Kuwat FC Kuwait
Majeed Saleh

Majid Saleh Joins Team Melli coaching staff.

Tehran

Esteghlal assistant coach Majid Saleh , has been added to Team Melli coaching staff.

Saleh (47 Years) began his coaching career with Saipa as an assistant to Bizan Zolfagharnasab in 2004. He was selected by AMir Ghalenoei to be his tight hand man when the current Esteghlal briefly coached Mes Kerman. and then back to Esteghlal. Saleh also worked with Mansour Ebrahimzadeh as an assistant in a spell with Zob Ahan.

Majid Saleh eventually was given the opportunity to be a head coach of his own right at his original club Saipa. in May 2011, however it turned out to be a bitter experience for the young coach as he was relieved from his duties on February 2012 Ghalenoei came calling again and Saleh was picked up again to be assistant coach for Esteghlal.

The appointment of Saleh came after much debate and disagreement between Queiroz and Kaffashian. The latter insisted that an Iranian coach must be included in the coaching staff of Team Melli for many reasons, while Queiroz was not that too keen of doing so. The Portuguese coach kept referring to Namazi’s departure from Team Melli as his justification for not picking an Iranian coach!. Kaffashian , under pressure from the rest of the Executive Committee of IRIFF , would not have any of that.

Eventually a deal was reached when Kaffashian agreed on Queiroz nominee to replace the departed Siomoez , on the condition of picking an Iranian assistant coach to work beside  him.

With Queiroz selecting Oceano , the deal was completed by getting Majid Saleh in the coaching team. Carlos Queiroz has never worked with Saleh before and it is not clear how much he knows about Amir Ghalenoei’s right hand man and whether the Esteghlal head coach had any influence or role in this selection. Queiroz has met with Ghalenoei a few weeks, but their discussions were undisclosed.
Despite his inability to secure a full coaching job in Iran apart from the first experience in Saipa,  Saleh has built up a reputation of being a smart tactician , well versed in the modern styles and tactics of the European football and an aficionado of the quick passing game . His influence on the style of play is evident in Esteghlal teams.

Majid Saleh will be accompanying the squad to the South Africa camp.

Attaollah Behmanish celebrates his 91st birthday.

The legendary Radio and TV broadcaster , Atta Behmanish celebrated his 91st birthday yesterday.

Born in  Kermanshah on April 14th 1923. Behmanish grew up to become an all round  athlete in his own right but soon turned into sport journalism when he first wrote in “Omid Iran” magazine. There was no stopping Behmanish after that. He served as editor , reporter , Radio sport commentator, program presenter then eventually moved to TV where his tone of voice and style was recognized by millions across the country and abroad.

Atta Behmanish became the most popular TV sport personality before the revolution. His vast knowledge , photographic memory , his acute skills in remembering the finer details , his interest in history  and sports archives, turned Behmanish into a unique personality. He was referred to as “the Walking Encyclopedia of Iran sport”. His passion to sport was unlimited but in Football and Wrestling , he was one of a kind.

Although Iran produced many fine sports commentators, Atta Behmanish remains one and only living legend of Iranian media and sports journalism. His knowledge of sports extended well beyond the boundaries of his country. In the days before well the information technology days and instant information of internet , Behmanish had extensive knowledge of European & foreign teams and athletes in his two beloved sports Wrestling and Football.

ata-Behmanish 1

 

Young Atta BehmanishReporting a match Atta BehmanishThe athelete Atta Behmanish

Esteghlal management defies Team Melli.

In a statement to ISNA , Ali Fathollazadeh , the CEO of Esteghlal club said that club will be traveling to Riyadh to play Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia with a full strength squad, including  their Team Melli players

In order for Esteghlal to qualify for the next rounds of the 2014 AFC Champions League , it has to win the remaining two matches. The heartbroken Esteghlal which  was defeated in a crucial last day of the season match by Tractorsazi, will not be competing in the premiere competition of Asian club football after missing out on the ranking. Winning this current edition of the competition is the only salvation for this proud champion pedigree team from Tehran and hence the clubs has decided to go with full force to Riyadh. Esteghlal lost the league title to Foolad Khuzestan while the cup was won by Tractorsazi this season.

With Esteghlal taking all their players, Team Melli may have to depart to South Africa without them. As it is , there will be at least 7 or 8 players missing from the Team Mellli squad already due to club commitments. Players in Kuwait and Qatar are yet to be released by their clubs , while there is no chance of any European based players joining the camp.  There was no comment from the football federation or Team Melli coaching staff regarding Esteghlal decision and their refusal to release their players for the South Africa camp.  Legislation does not force a club to release the players for the national team training camps, so legally the IRIFF is helpless if Esteghlal departs to Saudi Arabia with their full team.

 

Current Team Melli players

HEYDARI, Khosrow

SADEGHI, AmirHossein

TEYMOURIAN, Andranik

Group ‘F’ analysis by FIFA

fifa.com

Group F will feature one match that has become something of a classic fixture of and five that have never been played on the big stage before, part of the reason for which is because Bosnia-Herzegovina are making their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup™, while Iran have only ever faced their group rivals in friendlies.

As for Argentina and Nigeria, the other two combatants in the group, there is not much they do not know about each other. Their meeting next June will be the latest instalment in an exciting rivalry between the two sides, led by Lionel Messi and John Obi Mikel, who have faced off three times in major competitions at different age levels: the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005, the gold medal match at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 and in the group phase at South Africa 2010. On all three occasions Argentina won.

The teams
There is not much that has not already been said about two-time world champions Argentina or for that matter about Messi, who will renew his bid to lift the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy. Alejandro Sabella’s men are the favourites to top a group in which reigning African champions Nigeria will be aiming to make the experience they have acquired on their four previous appearances count. Meanwhile, Bosnia will be out to replicate the entertaining brand of football that made them the fourth-highest scorers in the European qualifiers, and Iran, coached by Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz will hope to combine solid organisation with the technical attributes they have long been known for.

Players to watch
Lionel Messi, (ARG), Sergio Aguero (ARG), Gonzalo Higuain (ARG), John Obi Mikel (NGA), Victor Moses (NGA), Victor Obinna (NGA), Edin Dzeko (BIH), Vedad Ibisevic (BIH), Miralem Pjanic (BIH), Reza Ghoochannejhad (IRN), Javad Nekounam (IRN), Karim Ansari (IRN).

The crunch match
Bosnia-Nigeria: in a section that most people will expect Argentina to win, games such as this one will be crucial in deciding who goes through to the last 16. The European side will have the challenge of performing in circumstances that will be entirely new to them, while the Nigerians will be eyeing the chance to reach the knockout phase for the first time since France 1998.

A look back
Argentina 2-1 Nigeria, 25 June 1994, Boston
This game, which will forever be remembered as Diego Armando Maradona’s last match for his country, pitted an Argentina side packed with stars such as El Diez, Claudio Caniggia, Fernando Redondo and Gabriel Batistuta against a Nigeria team very much on the up and up and featuring the likes of Rashidi Yekini, Finidi George and Emmanuel Amunike. The Africans took a surprise early lead through Samson Siasia, only for the wily Caniggia to turn the game around with a typically predatory double. The blond-haired striker’s cry of “Diego, Diego”, imploring Maradona to play the pass that would lead to his second goal, is an iconic moment for Argentina fans.

Did you know?
Bosnia-Herzegovina, who played their first official match as an independent national team in November 1995, came close to making their World Cup debut at South Africa 2010 but lost out in the play-offs to Portugal. Twenty-four of their 26 most regularly selected players ply their trade outside the country.

The stat
36 – The number of years since Argentina and Iran met for the first and only time to date. That match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, took place in Madrid on 22 March 1977 and formed part of Real Madrid’s 75th anniversary celebrations. One year later La Albiceleste won their maiden World Cup title on home soil in a competition that marked the Asian side’s world finals debut.

 

 

The tweet

 

En un Mundial ningún partido es fácil pero con esfuerzo y trabajo siempre hay recompensa. Vamos Argentina!!!

 

In a World Cup match is no easy job but there is always effort and reward. Come on Argentina!
Sergio Aguero, Argentina

Lack of match practice no deterrent for Iran.

April 10, 2014 5:03 am  •  By JOHN DUERDEN

Playing in a World Cup group containing Argentina, Nigeria and Bosnia was always going to be difficult, even before Iran’s lack of warm-up games factored into the equation.

After qualifying last June, Iran played its first preparation game on March 5 against Guinea. On the same evening, South Korea was playing its 14th warm-up match.

The fact that Iran looked rusty as it lost 2-1 was no surprise given the lack of game time together. A training camp in Portugal in September was scrapped, apparently due to a lack of funds.

But Iran is hoping coach Carlos Queiroz can work wonders at the World Cup using his tactical know-how and extensive international experience.

Since taking over three years ago, the former Real Madrid and Portugal coach has built a tight unit.

“To have such a coach gives us confidence,” Iran midfielder Javad Nekounam told The Associated Press. “We came through a very tough qualification group. Now we are focused only on performing well at the World Cup. We know it will not be easy but we also know that we are good enough to make our country proud.”

Iran qualified for the World Cup by finishing at the top of its Asian group just weeks after seemingly being down and out. The team rallied to win its last three games without conceding a goal, including a final day 1-0 victory over South Korea.

The game was settled by a strike from Reza Ghoochannejhad, a Dutch-born (1) striker who came into his own in the second half of the qualification campaign and who is expected to be the team’s main offensive threat in Brazil.

Scoring goals is going to be the main issue for the team. While Iran is well-organized defensively under Queiroz, finding the net hasn’t always been easy. After defeating Lebanon 4-0 in Tehran in a qualifier, Iran managed to score only four goals in the other seven games.

Queiroz has actively searched for European-born players eligible to represent Iran. Ashkan Dejagah, a former Germany youth international, spent eight years in the Bundesliga before moving to Fulham in 2012 to play in the Premier League, while Daniel Davari has emerged to challenge Rahman Ahmadi for the goalkeeping position. Davari, with an Iranian father, plays for Eintracht Braunschweig in the Bundesliga.

These new players have linked up with the likes of Nekounam, who spent six seasons at Osasuna in Spain, and former Bolton midfielder Andranik Teymourian to build a team with a blend of youth and experience.

“When we go to Brazil, we will have the whole nation behind us and that will make us perform even better,” Teymourian said. “It is something we take very seriously. We will give everything to succeed.”

Correction to the original article.

(1) Reza Ghoochannejad was born in Mashad, Khorasan and not dutch born as the original article has stated.

 

 

Belo Horizonte avoids World Cup delays.

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Belo Horizonte was one of the first Brazilian cities to be ready for the World Cup, avoiding the delays that marked the preparations of nearly all other host cities.

Matches will be played at the renovated Mineirao Stadium, one of Brazil’s most revered football venues. It was inaugurated in December 2012, and was one of the two (along with Fortaleza’s Castelao Stadium) not to miss FIFA’s deadline for the Confederations Cup.

The venue was used in the semifinals of the World Cup warm-up tournament, when Brazil beat Uruguay to stay on track to eventually win the title.

The Mineirao will seat more than 62,000 fans and will host four group matches: Colombia vs. Greece on June 14; Belgium vs. Algeria on June 17; Argentina vs. Iran on June 21; and Costa Rica vs. England on June 24. It will also host a match in the round of 16 on June 28, possibly with Brazil playing, and a semifinal match on July 8.

The southeastern city, which is also home to the training camps of Argentina and Chile, is filled with football tradition, fueled by the rivalry between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro, two of the country’s most successful clubs.

FIFA Ranking; Iran Still # 1 in Asia

The latest FIFA ranking published by the World Football governing body in April shows Iran is still number 1 team in Asia ahead of Japan , Uzbekistan an South Korea.

Iran with 715 points has also jumped 5 places up the world ranking to number 37 in the list.

Nigeria, Iran’s first opponent in the World Cup has climbed 2 places to # 45 with  620 and 5th in Africa.

Argentina with a total of 1174 points dropped 3 places to # 6 in the world and # 3 in the zone ranking.

Bosnia & Herzegovina  with a total of 795 dropped 4 places to #25 in the world while placed 17th in Europe.

Asian FIFA Ranking

April 2014
Rnk Zon. Rnk Team Pts +/- Pos
37 1 Iran 715 5 Up
47 2 Japan 613 1 Up
53 3 Uzbekistan 577 2 Up
56 4 Korea Republic 551 4 Up
59 5 Australia 545 4 Up
64 6 Jordan 510 2 Up
67 7 United Arab Emirates 499 -6 Down
75 8 Saudi Arabia 455 0 Equal
81 9 Oman 418 0 Equal
95 10 Qatar 336 6 Up