Tag: Kuwait

Omid Team prepare for Kuwait match.

Iran’s Omid team continue the training camp ahead of Thursday’s match against Kuwait Olympic Team ( U23) in Kuwait.

 in an interview with Mehr News sport correspondence Mohammad Khakpour , the head coach of Iran’s Omid team (U23)  declared that his team is in a desperate need of full support in order to achieve the aspiration of the football federation and Iranian fans.

“Qualifying for the Olympics needs the cooperation of everyone involved in Iran’s football. Without the full support and with reservations and objections on our requests, I do not think we can achieve such aspiration.” Khakpour said while preparing the team in Kuwait ahead of a friendly match against its Kuwaiti counterpart.

On the status of the camp, Khakpour said “This is our last stage of preparation before the qualifying matches begins. The camp is going fine although we do suffer from the absence of several good players like Moradmand and Cheshmi due to Visa issue reasons (!!).  We have also invited Azmoun and Jahanbakhash but nether of their clubs released them as they are not obliged to under FIFA rules.”

When quizzed by the reporter what is the reason for players’ Visa problem, which should be a routine procedure for any team travelling abroad, Khapour said he was not aware of the procedures and the measures taken by the responsible personnel in the FFIRI to obtain visas. “Both Cheshmi and Mordmand were in the list , but negligence of the staff resulted in their name not being sent to the Kuwait embassy. Abdollahzadeh’s name has always been in the list, and I am thankful that he eventually got the entry Visa at the last minute at the airport.”

Khakpour categorically denied that he had any meeting with Queiroz after Team Melli head coach returned back to Tehran a few days ago.  “The last time I saw Queiroz was about a month and a half ago when Kashani and myself inadvertently bumped into him in the FFIRI offices. At that time he said to us that he cannot release Azmoun and Jahanbakhsh for Omid Team and also mentioned that he himself was not sure of continuing with Team Melli !” Khakpour added. “ We had no meetings with Queiroz since neither was there one arranged since then.”

Asked if his insistence of having these two players and the public commotion that he and Kashani have created would not negatively affect the other team players morale, the head coach of Omid Team defended his stand and said. “At this age level, I do not believe there is a great difference in players’ standards; the only difference is international exposure. I have not made a big deal of the issue of Azmooun and Jahanbakhsh but as the head coach, it was my duty to do whatever I can to secure their services.”

 

Omid team’s Abdollahzadeh is deported due to management blunder!

A blunder created by Habib Kashani and Mohammad Khakpour , forced Omid Team player Ahmad Abdollahzadeh to be deported from Kuwait after the player arrived in Kuwait without a visa!

Omid Team Coach Khakpour listed Abdollahzadeh in the squad list that was sent to the Kuwaiti authorities for issue in the visa, however , he requested the name of Abdollahzadeh to be dropped due to injury. Subsequently Ahmad Abdollahzadeh was not issued a visa. Somewhere along the line and a few days before the departure of the squad , Khakpour changed his mind and included Abdollahzadeh in the squad.

Without being prudent nor considering the consequences of a person travelling to a foreign country without a visa, Abdollahzadeh boarded the plane along with other members of the squad with the approval of Habib Kashani. Omid Team manager concurred with Khakpour’s decision and vowed to sort out Abdollahzadeh’s nonexistence of a visa on arrival at Kuwait airport!

As expected, Abdollahzadeh was denied entering into Kuwait without a visa and all the hype by Kashani , who thought that by haggling and dealing , he can manage to slip someone in a foreign country without a visa, has miserably failed. The team was left waiting for hours awaiting conclusion of the problem created by Kashani and Khakpour. Eventually , the team was allowed to leave to the hotel while Abdollahzadeh was stuck at Kuwait airport for hours awaiting a flight back to Iran as he was eventually deported.

This is yet another blunder that seems to typify the management of football in Iran. Kashani’s farce promise that he can confidently sort out a player who does not carry a valid visa is archetypical of managers who have unrealistic expectations and at times clueless about the laws and regulations.

ahmad-abdollahzadeh

For years, Omid team in particular has been the object of so many managerial errors but nothing worse than the last edition when a suspended player was used against Iraq in the qualifying rounds of the London Olympics in the Omid team win in Iraq. The result was over-turned into a loss and subsequently Omid team lost the home game as well and was eliminated. .

The names might have changed but the problems of Omid Team incompetent managers remains the same.

Omid Team is setting up a training camp in Kuwait where two games was originally scheduled to be played. However, one game was cancelled as the Omid team will be playing against its Kuwaiti counterpart on Thursday 12th March 2015.

 

Reza Ghoochannejad parts company with Al Kuwait SC.

Reza Ghoochannejad has left Al Kuwait SC  after the club decided to terminate his contract.

The-27-year old striker joined Kuwait Sporting Club on a season-long loan from Charlton Athletics in Last August.
Al Qadisiya of Kuwait and Iran s Persepolis have already shown their interests in signing the striker.

Ghoochannejad vs Qatar

Rumors of the club losing interest started a few months back. The most expensive signing of Kuwait SC was not up to the expectations of their hierarchy and hence the club has thought about offloading Ghoochannejad by January or the winter transfer window. Kuwait football clubs and their FA is unlike the rich Persian Gulf States such as Qatar , Saudi Arabia and UAE in spending on football. The professional players bought by Kuwaiti clubs re normally the ones who are cheaper and lower in standards than the ones that head to the other 3 countries.

Ghoochannejhad played a key role for Team Melli in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. He scored two late goals against the UAE and Iraq in Australia.
Ghoochannejhad started his career at Heerenveen and has already played at Go Ahead Eagles, Cambuur, Sint-Truiden and Standard Liege.

Kaveh Rezaei’s hat trick not enough for Iran

A second half hat trick by team Melli’s center forward Kaveh Rezaei against Kuwait was not enough for Iran to qualify to the next round.

In the match played on Thursday , Iran U-22 beat Kuwait-U22 3-1 in Muscat , Oman in the final game of group C in the AFC Asian U-22 Championship 2014.

Japan routed Australia 4-0 in the other game that was played at the same time of Iran-Kuwait game, to qualify for the next round along with Australia. Both Iran and Kuwait were eliminated.

In a match which was totally dominated by Team Melli U-22 , the Iranians did everything but finish their attacks in the first half. The hero of the match was undoubtedly the Kuwaiti goalkeeper who saved many goal bound shoots from Iranian forwards. In the second round the trend continued as the first with the Kuwaiti’s having nothing to offer but sit back and defend. However , Rezaei managed to score in the 62nd minute with a flying header after the Kuwaiti goalkeeper again parried in front of Kaveh Rezaeh who cleverly headed into the goal. Rezaei scored his second 5 minutes later in a similar circumstances before completing his hat trick in style with a curved shoot on to the far corner of the Kuwait goalkeeper in the 81st minute. Kuwait scored a consolation late in the added time.

Kaveh Rezaei
Kaveh Rezaei

For all his effort , Rezaei’s fine scoring record in this tournament , could not save Iran. 5 goals from 3 matches is a record to be proud of but the Japanese with a convincing win in their decider match against Australia, sealed the feat of Iran. It was a bitter end for Team Melli U-22 under Human Afazeli who took over only a few days before the start of the competition after Alireza Mansourian resigned his post as a coach.

 

 

AFC U-22 Championship: Group C Preview

 

Published: 12 January 2014

Muscat: Japan coach Makoto Teguramori is banking on his young side developing a winning habit starting at the AFC U-22 Championship with victory in the competition a crucial step on the road to future success.

Boasting a flawless record in qualifying in which Teguramori’s attack-minded Blue Samurai were second highest scorer, the former Vegalta Sendai coach emphasised the significance of the 16-team tournament to his side’s development.

“Since the first day I was nominated for this position, I have always said this tournament was important for the development of our young generation of players,” said Teguramori.

Japan are placed in arguably one of the toughest groups of the tournaments alongside Australia, Iran and Kuwait, with Teguramori’s team beginning their campaign against Iran at the Royal Oman Police Stadium in Group C on Sunday.

“It’s extremely important for my young team to compete against other strong nations,” said Teguramori. “It’s important to win for the team’s attitude to prepare and win. It’s important to get into the experience of winning tournaments.

“As this squad consists of a generation that didn’t play as well at U-19 level, so players want to pay back those emotions from unsuccessful tournaments by showing a fighting spirit in this tournament.”

Teguramori’s opposite number, Iran coach Afazeli Human, was full of admiration for his opponents, highlighting the superior make-up of their side.

“At the moment, the Japan football team has a mixture of individual quality and teamwork. That is the possible way to grow, when you have a mixture,” said Human.

“If you have good individuals not in the team that is a problem. If you have a good team but no top individuals, that’s also a problem. Japan has both great individuals and a great team.”

Human’s team earned their place at the AFC U-22 Championship by winning their qualifying group, and although their squad in Muscat lacks some of the stars that led them to the finals, Iran will have the striking talents of forward Kaveh Rezaei who top-scored for the side during qualification. However, they will have to make do without defender Vahid Esmaeilbeigi and midfielder Morteza Pouraliganji against Japan due to suspension.

“We are here to stay in Oman as long as possible,” added Human. “We will also focus on the quality and mentality of the players – the most important thing in this tournament is to get the last steps for a pro’s life.”

In the opening game of Group C, Australia will take on Kuwait with coach Aurelio Vidmar expecting his Olyroos squad to savour the opportunity of top level international fixtures.

“It’s important to have competitive games, we don’t play enough international football at youth level, so for us this tournament is very important,” said Vidmar.

“We expect tough games and we’re going to be competitive. We’re here to get experience into young bodies and young careers, that’s the most important thing for us. The more games they get the better.

“We haven’t had the opportunities for camps or friendly games throughout the year. It’s not going to be perfect, but if the attitude is right, then we can go a long way.”

Kuwait’s coach Jorvan Vieira concurs with his Australian counterpart that the AFC U-22 Championship provides a good opportunity for competitive matches for his youthful charges.

Vieira has already tasted national team success in an AFC continental competition after guiding Iraq to a famous victory at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and will be hoping his side that includes two members of his senior side, forward Faisal Al Harbi and defender Fahad Al Hajeri, can get the team off to winning ways in Muscat.

“Our target is the same: provide real experience for the young players,” he said.

“Players only get real experience when they are exposed to, and participate in, matches and according to the results they can get.”