Team Melli’s winger, Masoud Shojaei is rumored to have join Gerona, a second division team in the Spanish League . Shojaei was one of the players who did not receive contract extension from Osasuna after the end of the last season. He has been a free agent and looking for a Spanish club for the last few months.
Gerona just missed promotion to the La Liga last season and finished 4th.
Tehran.
The secretary general of FFIRI has revealed that a possible European training camp will be held for Team Melli on the 2nd or 3rd September. After the conclusion of the executive committee meeting of the football federation, Mohammad MohammadNabi briefed the media on various subjects discussed in that meeting.
Referring to Team Melli, MohammadNabi said that “Carlos Queiroz will be back in Iran by next week and I think (..) we will be setting camp on the 2nd September or 3rd somewhere in Europe. We have identified that camp but we will not announce it until we sign the agreement.”
“In regards to the two friendly matches, we are awaiting the arrival of Queiroz to finalize the dates and the oppositions. The friendly matches will probably be during the Training Camp in Europe.” MohammadNabi added.
Asked whether some changes in personnel will affect the Technical cadre of Team Melli , the secretary general said “ No such changes are envisaged, the staff on the bench will remain the same.” The question was asked following several hints by Kaffashian that Queiroz needs to reduce the number of the coaching staff due to cost. Queiroz response was swift and strong objecting to Kaffashian’s ultimatum.
Speaking about the chances of the AFC awarding the hosting of 2019 AFC Asian Cup to Iran, MohammadNabi said that “Our chances are quite good, however the AFC must positively respond to our request.”
MohammadNabi also spoke about various domestic league issues, but on the subject of Team Melli programs, the rhetoric remains was the same. Unsure about the dates of the camp, unsure about the which team they will be meeting in friendly matches , unsure whether the coach will say Yes or NO to the program and all this occurring with just about two weeks left to the supposed training camp the beginning of September.
Thus Team Melli program and progress will remain in the doldrums of a mix of management uncertainties and lack of funds.
Manila , Philippines.
Iran’s Baskeyball Team Melli took gold madals and the championship trophy with another double-digit win in the final match of FIBA Asian Championship as they overtook the host Philippines in the final 85-71
Led by Hamed Haddadi – the Iranians won each one of their games by more than 10 points — including a 90-point difference in points in a win over Malaysia in the preliminary round — finishing with a perfect 9-0 record in the 27th Asia Championships of Basketball.
This is the 3rd title for Iran after the double in 2007 and 2009.
TeamMelli.com takes this opportunity to congratulates the fellow Iranians everywhere in the globe for this win in Basketball with a great series of performances.
The plight of Masoud Shojaei-Soleimani , took an interesting turn today.
A local website quoting Real Valladolid club insider said that the club roster is full with its quota of foreign players (Non Spanish Passport holders), hence the chances of the Iranian Shojaei joining Real Valladolid is quite remote, unless Shojaei changes his citizenship to become Spanish ! Shojaei has been having talks with the La Liga club but the outcome of the talks was not publicly announced. This unofficial announcement is the first hint of the outcome of the Iranian player’s talk with the Spanish club.
Masoud Shojaei, the Team Melli forward has been released by Osasuna and is a free agent , which means that he can sign for any club he wishes for free and no transfer fees exchanged. However, Shaojei so far has found it quite difficult to select a suitable club in the La Liga , his preferred league.
The Team Melli player, Shojaei, has gone through a tough period of injury lasting over one season. On his recovery , he found it difficult to win a place in the starting line up of Osasuna and sometimes he even did not make the bench. Eventually Osasuna released him. With the World Cup starting less than a year, it is crucial for Shojaei to play regularly at the highest level possible in order to make the roster, although Queiroz had a every unusual trust in the player’s ability by picking him for the squad and playing him as soon as he recovered from his injury. Shojaeoi, though , has yet to shine for Team Melli and answer Queiroz confidence in him, no doubt the injury has had it effect on this skillful player.
Team Melli U-16 team has to compete in the deadly city of Karachi , the scene of a recent deadly bomb last targeting football.
A bomb blast as fans left a football stadium in Karachi on Tuesday night killed at least 11 spectators and injured dozens more. Most of the casualties are reported to be children. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has nominated the city of Karachi as the host for AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers staring next month.
The bomb blast came a few days after the AFC’s dismissal of a warning submitted by the Iranian Football Federation FFIRI expressing deep concern that the venue for the youth qualifying tournaments, the City of Karachi , is not a safe place due to a series on bomb blast, political assassinations and targeting of ethnics groups.. AFC thinks otherwise and the request for change of venue was denied.
Karachi is the largest city and the commercial center of the Islamic Republic Pakistan a country that is entangled in serious political tensions, ethnic conflicts, terrorism resulting in spate of terrifying bomb attacks. A large minority of Shia Muslims is resident in this city and the Shia , in particular, have been targeted by suicide bombers and deadly attacks by the extremist Islamic groups.
In a statement issued by AFC president today, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has called for an end to the attacks on sports events, especially football, in the continent. In the statement following the deadly bomb attacks, the Bahraini President expressing deep anguish at the death of eight football fans in Karachi’s bomb blast after a four-a-side Ramadan tournament final, Shaikh Salman said that sport should be used as a tool to promote peace.
He referred to the hosting of the U- 16 qualifiers “We are following the rise in popularity of football in Pakistan and we are confident that the AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers will give a further boost to the efforts carried out by the Pakistan Football Federation,”. However, he did not specifically mention anything about the security precautions that have to be taken after this incident and whether the AFC has delegated a special task force to look into the safety and security level of this dangerous city.
The seriousness of that bomb blast is described to the media by several witnesses and officials
The bomb, which contained ball bearings to inflict the maximum damage, was situated deliberately to target fans as they filed out of the ground.
“When the match ended, we came out and as soon as we came out there was a blast,” Ameer Ali, who was injured in the blast, told Reuters. “Everyone started running in panic. Many people were hit, which scared everyone.”
Speaking to AFP FIFA referee Ahmed Jan said: “Football is dying. It died, maybe, for the last time on Tuesday. If the government fails to maintain law and order soon then I’m afraid this sport’s most loving part of the city will not be there on the sporting map.”
The match was between two teams named after a local gang leader who earlier in the year was accused of beheading a rival and then using his head as a football.
There is no word yet for the Iranian side who raised the alarm in the first place against the hosting of Karachi due to g security concerns, but whatever the case, it seems that insistence by the AFC for Karachi to host this tournament under such hazardous conditions is putting unnecessary pressure on footballers and fans and risking the life the participants.
United states Government sources have categorized Karachi as a security risk. The following is an extract of their analysis:
Overall Crime and Safety Situation
Karachi and other areas of Sindh and Baluchistan provinces continues to experience high levels of violence characterized by bombings, targeted killings, sectarian strife, kidnappings for ransom, and frequent demonstrations. American citizens, U.S. interests, and other Westerners are at risk of becoming targets of violence.
Crime Threats
Crime and safety are major concerns. Criminal gangs, often with political party affiliations, operate with impunity in most parts of the city, and some areas of Karachi effectively are cut off from police. Violent crime continued upward trends, and 2012 can be categorized as among the most deadly and violent years ever recorded in Karachi.
The following crime statistics are based on reporting by the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) and local law enforcement reports; however, many crimes remain unreported:
2,032 targeted killings (murders associated with political, sectarian or terrorist groups)
1,790 kidnappings for ransom
4,720 vehicle thefts with approximately 42 percent recovered
18,774 motorcycle thefts with approximately 12 percent recovered
23,962 cell phone thefts
Iran is competing in the AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers round along with host Pakistan, Sri lanka and the UAE from 25th to 29th of September with all matches being played in the People’s stadium in Karachi.
References:
News report AFC denies Iran’s venue change request. (Farsi)
Karachi lacks security for hosting the u-16 matches (Farsi)
Team Melli maintained its rank unchanged from last month at 52 in the world in the latest FIFA ranking published by the World Football body on Thursday.
However, Iran overtook South Korea into the third place in Asia for yet another humiliation to its bitter rival whom Iran defeated twice in the World Cup 2014 qualifiers. South Korea dropped 13 places in the overall ranking to 56 with four steps below Iran. Japan with 695 points in the 37th and Australia with 630 in the 46th position are still at the top of the Continental ranking table ahead of Iran on 601 points and South Korea at 594.
The three team in Iran group of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup are ranked as followed.
Kuwait : 304 points in 112 (12 in Asia)
Lebanon : 277 points in 120 (17 in Asia)
Thailand : 223 points in 137 (20 in Asia)
Bangkok.
The National football team of Thailand was handsomely defeated by Barcelona in a friendly match in Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Wednesday. The star studded Catalan club with all their stars making an appearance overwhelmed the hapless Thai team 7-1 with Merci. Thailand is preparing for the upcoming match in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Iran. A win is crucial for the Thai team to keep their hope of qualifying for the tournament in Australia alive as currently they have 0 points from two matches against Kuwait at home and Lebanon away.
The match attracted a near capacity crowd in Bangkok. Neymar, the Brazilian star and Barca’s recent signing opened scoring early on , then Lionel Messi got on the scoring sheet before Pedro scored his 1st of three in the match. Messi helped himself to another while Sanchez also scored in the second half. From minute 53 onwards, Barcelona stopped scoring despite going close on numerous occasions. The 2nd half saw a complete different Barcelona team consisting mainly of reserve players and new signings.
While Thailand is arranging strong friendly matches against world class opposition,( including a previous match against Chelsea) to prepare for the match against Iran in 68 days, Team Melli has failed to arrange any friendlies since its last match against South Korea in Ulsan where they clinched direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. A schedule camp in August including a friendly match against Ghana in Portugal was cancelled by the football federation due to lack of funds !
Team Melli is currently leading the group with 4 points on goal difference with Kuwait.
Ali Kaffashian acknowledged that Football federation has received instruction not to facilitate, support or assist in the transfer of Iranian players to the UAE.
In an interview with ISNA, the head of the FFIRI stated that after the spiteful re-naming of the UAE Professional football league into a fake one, an act which is considered by the Iranians to be politically driven, inflammatory and provocative, the Iranian authorities have asked the football federation FFIRI to prevent and cease in aiding the transfer of any Iranian players to the UAE.
However, Kaffashian insisted that in Khalatbary’s case, there is nothing that can be done as his transfer happened before the provocative act of the UAE football league. The penalty clause of Khalatbary with Ajman mentions a 1 million dollar compensation to be paid to the club in case he leaves the club before the end of the contact. “ Nekounam’s case was different as the negotiation was going on and during this renaming process . The player realized the sensitivity of his move and refrained from pursuing it any further.” Kaffashian said in reference to the transfer talks held between Team Melli Captain and Al Sharjah club.
Kaffashian said that he was asked by the CEO of Perspolis Rouyanian , what can he (Kaffashaian) do to release Khalatbary from the contract ? “I said to him, we will do anything possible expect for financial reimbursement or payments.”
Commenting on Team Melli team “We have 6 or 7 games planned up to the start of the World Cup. Everything will be clear by November. We have several teams from Asia, Africa and Latin America in mind which we will announce as soon as we sign the agreements with them.” Kaffashian decline to name the teams concerned.
Kaffashian was asked by the reporter whether the appointment of a new sport minister will ease the pressure on the football federation and his own administration in particular, Kaffashian laughed off the mention of the word “pressure” and said that the only pressure they feel is the ones from the media and that has not eased off by any means.
the Persian Gulf , the name of the body of water separating the Iranian plateau from the Arabian Peninsula, which historically , officially and internationally is known as the Persian Gulf, is being changed by Arab nationalist movements since the 60’s, into Arab Gulf in defiance to the international community and the United Nation.
Iran’s U17 team concluded its participation in the Hope International cup by defeating Rangers of Hong Kong 6-0. The goals were scored by Babak Abdollahzadeh (2 goals) , Reza Sharbati , Faraz Imam Ali, Moein Ranjbarian, MohammadReza Soleimani. With that result , Iran finished with one win , one draw and one defeat.
Following the match against Hong Kong , Team Melli U17 played a friendly match against the Chinese club, Liaoning on Sunday 4th. The young Iranians were at top form and rattled the Chinese team with 5 goals for a 5-0 win.
The Iranians will leave China tomorrow en-route to Tehran via Doha.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh , the ex Damash Player and team Melli U21 Captain , has made his debut in the Eredivisie (Netherlands League) for his club NEC Nijmegen at Goffertstadion stadium.
The 19 years old Iranian started the second half as a substitute for C. Celik while NEC was trailing Groningen 2-1 at half time. He could not do anything significant to help his team in what was a lackluster performance as the match ended in a comprehensive 1- 4 defeat for the home team. A crowd of 10,200 fans witnessed the Iranian youngster play his first game in Holland , unfortunately the match result was not a one to remember for either.
The first round of the 18 team Eredivisie began on Saturday. Groningen leads the table after the first round with this win at NEC.
In an earlier interview before the match , Jahanbaksh expressed his satisfaction with his condition and although he joined the training camp late , Jahanbakhsh said that he is working harder to reach the fitness level required for the competition. He also said that his team is young and lacks the experience , however , they will be doing their utmost best to avoid the troubles of last season when they were on the brink of relegation.
