Futsal Team Melli Captain , Mohammad Keshavarz has been nominated once again for the AFC Futsal Player of the Year award 2012. Keshavarz joins Ali Karimi who is nominated in the best football player award. Karimi has won the award in 2004.

It will be a historical first for both the players , as no Iranian player has managed to grab the award on two different occasions.

Ali Karimi , has played for Bayten Munic and Schalke 04 after his succes in the Asain Cup 2004 where he was sel cted as the tournament best player and also the top scorer.  Karimi also played for Qatar FC , Steel Azin before setteling in Perspolis.

Mohammad Keshavarz has played for several clubs in the last 10 years. The 30 years old Captain of Iran’s Futsal team has played for Kowser,Shensa Saveh, Shahid Mansouri, Foolad Mahan, Shahid Mansouri before moving in 2011 to Giti Pasand, where his is currently the captain.

A member of the executive committee of Iran’s football federation has said that in the meeting that was recently held, he requested from Ali Kaffashian to publically apologize to the Iranian fans for the series of defeats and poor results of Iranian teams in recent competetions.

Shehab-Uldeen Aziz Khadem , has said that that Iranian fans have endured hardship and have been greatly disappointed by one defeat after another in the international arena and it is a high time that someone takes responsibility and  prudently apologize for these defeats.  He added that the public and fans are quite obviously dejected,   disconsolate and losing hope and it is the duty of the federation to change and positively react to this situation. The absence of the fans in the league matches of the last round was an obvious indication of the public feelings and sentiments towards football.

Commenting on the meeting , Khadem said that there was a suggestion of a meeting between Queiroz , Kaffashian and the executive committee. The proposal was put forward to limit some of the authorities and powers given to Queiroz “We believe that Queieroz should serve the interest of Iranian football not vice versa.” “ We need people to come out of their cocoons and air their criticism , as  shying away from criticizing the team and the coach  and instead praising a team whose performance is lackluster and devoid of success on the pretext of national interest, will never serve our progress in football.”

“Admittedly, looking back at the results of Iranian football in the recent years , we have to say that the federation has failed in meeting the high aspiration and expectations of the Iranian fans. I am not talking about individual failures here , but addressing a group in the shape of Iran’s football federation.” Khadem said. The outspoken Khadem also mentioned that the absloute majority of the committee memebers agreed with Torabian’s resignation as the head of Iran’s futsal team , but Kaffashian was dragging his feet on the issue. Torabian has been a close ally and a confidante of Kaffashian during his tenure as the head of IFF.

Khadem demanded immediate reforms within the federation as the failures in football and futsal have been far too frequent. This administration must act and properly interact with the public and media.

TEHRAN TIMES – TEHRAN

Akbar Mohammadi stepped down as coach of Iran U19 football team on Wednesday.

Iran was knocked out of the AFC U-19 Championship last week after being crushed 4-1 by South Korea.

“I apologize to all Iranian people since we failed to qualify for the World Cup. But I keep my head up because I did my best in the team,” Mohammadi said.

Iran futsal coach Ali Sanei and head of Iran’s Futsal Committee Abbas Torabian, have previously resigned from their jobs after the futsal team lost to Colombia in the 2012 Futsal World Cup in Thailand.

(FIFA.com) Thursday 22 November 2012

 In a sense, one scenario Iran had not prepared for in their planning for 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualification was a home defeat. Carlos Queiroz’s side, after all, boast a proud home record at the legendary Azadi Stadium which had seen them undefeated in 15 matches across three years, with the last defeat coming in March 2009 when they were edged out 2-1 by Saudi Arabia during South Africa 2010 qualifying. Thus last week’s solitary-goal defeat against Uzbekistan not only brought an abrupt end to that record, but also deprived them of the chance to move top of the section. While the Uzbeks were catapulted to the summit of Group A, Iran slipped to third, trailing behind Korea Republic on goal difference, with only three matches left. Taking solace in history On the surface, Team Melli were punished by their inability to provide a killer punch in front of goal. Although they dominated large periods of the home match against the Uzbeks, it was the visitors who grabbed the match-winner with Ulugbek Bakaev firing home off Server Djeparov’s free-kick.

Queiroz’s outfit had finished the previous round as the biggest scorers with 17 goals scored across six outings. Yet, the Iranians are now, alongside Lebanon, the most goal-shy of the ten remaining Asian teams having scored just twice in their five matches during the ongoing final round. While the fans are still bemoaning last week’s defeat, it is the lingering goalscoring problems that are causing the most concern. Having long dazzled the continent with a knack of constantly finding the back of the net, Iran now see their campaign in jeopardy due to their profligacy in front of goal. On the road to France 1998, the team emerged the group’s top scorers with 13 goals – 5 more than top-finishers Saudi Arabia. They racked up seven goals in the final round for Germany 2006 which sealed their early qualification, and even in their failed campaign for South Africa 2010 Iran were the group’s second best scorers with 8 goals.

As a country which has produced global goal-king Ali Daei, Iran have never been short of striking talents. Aside from Sepahan marksman Mohammad Khalatbari, notable amongst Queiroz’s attacking options is 22-year-old Karim Ansarifard who finished the last Iranian season as top-scorer with 21 goals, while both Fulham new acquisition Ashkan Dejagah and Belgian-based Reza Ghoochannejhad also enhance the attack. Neither are lacking in creativity, with captain Javad Nekonam pulling the strings in midfield, a fact which even Uzbekistan Mirdjalal Kasimov coach acknowledged. “Iran created many good chances but they failed to break our deadlock,” he said. “And that is exactly what happened to us in the first leg.” Iran assistant coach Antonio Simoes, overseeing the game for the suspended Queiroz, though, shed light on where the team must improve. He said: “We played well, but the winning spark never lit for us and the players lacked support from each other in different moments.”

Team Melli seek to rebound While the defeat was a rude awakening for Team Melli, Queiroz received unwavering support from Iranian FA boss Ali Kafashian. “Queiroz is a good coach and he will continue as Iran coach,” the latter was quoted as speaking to local press recently. “He has a good knowledge of Iran’s football.” Aside from the faith offered by his pay-masters, the Portuguese coach has over six months to prepare for their next crucial match in Qatar on 4 June next year. In order to test more new faces, he announced a young squad for next month’s West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship in Kuwait. Meanwhile, he continues to scour Europe for more overseas-based recruitments with Eintracht Braunschweig goalkeeper Daniel Davari recently on his radar. “Our duty is to fully concentrate on the next match,” said the 59-year-old. “We respect the other teams, but we will make our best effort to win.”