Category: AFC Asian Cup 2015

JAHANBAKHSH READY TO STRIKE

the-afc.com

03 November 2014 Joe Gorman

Growing up playing on dirt pitches and in the streets outside the Iranian capital Tehran, Alireza Jahanbakhsh idolised Brazilian star Ronaldo.

He grew up wanting to be a striker, and at just 21 years of age, Jahanbakhsh is now firmly established in Europe and has made several appearances for the national team under manager Carlos Queiroz. He is without a doubt one of the hottest properties in Iranian football.

After several seasons in Iran, the young striker made the move to Dutch club NEC Nijmegen.

According to the president of SC Damash in Iran, Jahanbakhsh’s transfer fee helped the club survive in difficult financial times, and it wasn’t long before he was helping his new club by scoring crucial goals in the battle to avoid relegation.

Having being voted one of the top young talents in the Eredivisie, Jahanbakhsh has come on the radar for several English clubs, with Manchester United and Chelsea both rumoured to be interested in his services.

In 2014, Jahanbakhsh was one of several exciting young players to be included in the Iran squad for the World Cup, however he didn’t start any of the games, instead coming off the bench for all three matches.

Alongside Karim Ansarifard and Reza Ghoochannejhad, another young Iranian who had played in the Netherlands, Team Melli will have some of the most exciting attackers in the Asian Cup.

A tall, lanky striker with speed and skill, Jahanbakhsh will be hoping help his nation win their first Asian Cup since 1976.

List of Portugal camp players revealed.

The list of players considered for the Team Melli training camp in Portugal has been unofficially revealed.

The list was sent to the embassy of Portugal for Visa application , and someone has got hold of the list and distributed it.

Esteghlal had the lion share of players included with 7 followed by Sepahan Esfahan with 4. Persepolis has two players only however , the names of another two Hossein Mahini and Payam Sadeghian is also included despite restrictions and bans imposed on them!.

The legionnaires players will also be added to the list , despite the fact that the their clubs will not release them unless they are in FIFA Day duties and for a maximum of 3 days.

 

Players invited are as follows:
Esteghlal : Omid Ebrahimi, Yaghoub Karimi, Khosro Heydari, Mohsen Frouzan , Ando Teymourian . Amirhossein Sadeghi , Hashim Beikzadeh (7)

Sepahan: MohammadReza Khalatbary, Rahman Ahmadi, Mehdi Sharifi, Shoja’a Khalilzadeh (4)

Foolad Khuzestan : Sourosh Rafei , Mehrdad jama’ati , Ahmad Abdullahzadeh (3)

Naft Tehran: Alireza Birnavand , Pouraliganji.(2)

Persepolis : Sousha Makani , Reza Haghighi , (Payam Sadeghaian & Hossein Mahini conditional to Military Service)  (2+2)

Tractorsazi: Ahamad Ale Nemeh (1)
Zob Ahan: Ghassim Haddadifar (1)

 

Team Melli will be setting camp in Portugal around 10th October. According to the FFIRI , there will be playing 3 friendly games with yet to be confirmed teams. The camp is the first stage of preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2015 Australia. Iran group rivals have started preparation 3 months ago conducting training camps and playing friendly matches.