Tag: Majid Saleh

Team Melli camp Johannesburg: update News.

Carlos Queiroz has deployed some interesting tactics for the first friendly match of Team Melli in South Africa.

In the match that was played in the base camp of team Melli in Johannesburg, and in a pitch which did not resemble a football pitch, Queiroz decided that the opponents coach would referee the match while his assistance including Majid Saleh will be assistant referees!

Furthermore , Queiroz decided to play with 10 men only from minute 80 of the match, presumably  to test how his players will perform under pressure of one players short.  The South African team failed to score against Team Melli in the last 10 minutes , however it is not clear if the Africans have fielded a full strength team for this practice match.

In a post match statement , Queiroz said that his objective from this training camp practice matches is to improve the physical conditioning of the players “The result of the matches do not bother me one bit. I am more concerned on the physical side of my players and how to improve it in this short time that is available to me. We need to be tough both physically and mentally, improve our running and endurance.”  said the Portuguese coach.

“I am determined to take the team to Brazil and perform to our best ability provided we have unequivocal and full support form everyone (…)”

Meanwhile , Esteghlal player who joined the camp late , have been given a stern physical training to bring them back in shape. Some of the players were running with performance measuring devices for recording their vital sign.

Team Melli real test of this camp will be on the 2nd of May when they face the full national team of Mozambique.

Players trickling to Team Melli camp in South Africa.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi , the Manager of Team Melli has announced that more players will be joining the camp in the next few days

Mohammad Nabi who is the chief administrator and the supervisor of Team Melli , himself did not join the squad on the day of their departure to Johannesburg via Dubai, which irritated Carlos Queiroz. The Portuguese coach sarcastically commented on Mohammad Nabi’s absence from he group especially since many problems developed including the refusal of Sepahan and Esteghl;al to release their players. Neither Mohammand Nabi nor Kaffashian were in Tehran at the time.

According to the FFIRI official  , the Qatari club Um Salal has agreed to release Pezman Monatzeri in order for the defender to join the South Africa camp. Qatar league season is over, but the Cup matches are still on going. Um Salal is not involved in those cup matches. Montazeri will join the team on Sunday

Mohammad Nabi stated that Hamed Lak has arrived in Johannesburg Saturday morning while Ansarifard, Makani , Bakhtiyar Rahmani , Mehrdad Jamaati and Alireza Biranvand will be arriving Saturday afternoon and start training with the rest of the squad on Sunday. The Esteghlal contingent includes Sadeghi, Ando Teymourian, Heydari , Beigzadeh in addition to Majid Saleh the assistant coach , will be arriving on Monday.

Mohammad Nabi also said “We are continuing our effort with AL Kuwait FC in order to release Nekounam ” Such a move seems quite illogical especially since Nekounam is a key player for Al Kuwait FC which is challenging for the league title and the season is not over yet in Kuwait.

There was no comment on Sepahan players who were crossed off by Queiroz for unknown reasons.

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.