Tag: Mohammad Nabi

News: Team Melli in South Africa

The current Team Melli camp has been joined by additional two previously unannounced coaches from Brazil. Mohammad Nabi , the manager of Team Melli said these two coaches are recruited form Corinthians club of Brazil and will be replacing the departed Tony Simoez who reigned his post a couple of months back. The two unnamed coaches are added to the coaching staff team compromising of the recently recruited Majid Saleh , Oceano , Aghajanian, and Gasper.

On the other hand , the mystery of the team that was supposed to be facing Team Melli in a friendly match was finally unveiled hours before the kickoff. South Africa’s Moroka Swallows club will be the first opponent of Team Melli on Tuesday morning.

Team Melli officials refused to name the opponent teams until the last moments preferring secrecy to keep Team Melli rivals in Group F of the FIFA World cup in suspense and reducing the possibility of them observing Team Melli in action (…)

Today’s match will be the first test of the conditioning of the Iranian players. Much of the work carried out in South Africa was focused on the physical side to prepare Team Melli against the teams with better physical conditions and endurance. Mohammad Nabi re-emphasized the previous statements by Queiroz that this camp was set up for the domestic league players of Team Melli addressing their shortcomings in running , physical aspects and building body strength. Players in European leagues, do not need such training according to Queiroz.

The names of the other two or possibly three opponents of Team Melli in friendly matches remains a mystery.

Other major development of the cam p came from Queiroz who has decided to cut short the camp duration by 5 days. Team Melli coach was not very pleased by the start where he had to travel to Johannesburg with only 11 players out of 28 he selected for the camp.

The reason for cutting short the camp duration was offered by Mohammad Nabi . He said” Iranian players are very emotional lot and the long time away from their families is disturbing them ! In order to take some deserved rest and be with their families, we have decided to cut short the camp by a few days”

Mohammad Nabi also emphasized that the players who did not join Team Melli on the flight to Johannesburg are mot to be blamed and held accountable for their absence. They were under instruction from their clubs and hence are not culpable. He stressed that there is a big difference between an act such as Hadi Aghili when he left the camp or Mojtaba Jabbari who decided he will retire, both unilateral and personal decisions and the players of Team Melli held back by their clubs.

Team Melli training camp in cone of confusion!

Tehran

The secretary general of the FFIRI Mehdi Mohammad Nabi in an interview with Mehr News Agency, said “The training camp planned for Team Melli in South Africa and the next one in Austria has not been finalized yet!!”

 This statement is in sharp contrast to what the President of FFIRI Ali Kaffashian has confirmed weeks back that the South African camp is definitely on and will be conducted per schedule. Kaffashian even mentioned that he will personally go to each of the Persian Gulf Arab countries where a number of Team Melli members are playing , to seek their release for the training camp..

Mohammad Nabi also added “Despite mutual agreement for the extension of Queiroz contract beyond World Cup 2014 , we have actually not signed any contract yet.”

The claims and counter claims by the members of FFIRI has been the Achilles heel of Iran’s football administration for years. It is always difficult to confirm anything with this federation as the goalposts changes position all the time.

When asked about the status of Team Melli camp, Mohammad Nabi , once again referred to financial difficulties faced by his federation. “We had no intention of canceling the South Africa Training camp because of the unavailability of 3 or 4 players; however the problem facing us is monetary. The camp has not been finalized yet.”

“All the money we got from different sources including the sponsors will only cover the Training Camp in Brazil. Our schedule camps for South Africa and Austria are in doubt unless we manage to get more resources to cover their costs.”

Confronted by the reporter about the whereabouts of 5 billion toman that the federation has received from Team Melli sponsor. Mohammad Nabi confirmed that FFIRI has received the first payment of 5 Billion Toman (approx. US$ 2 million) , from which we paid the coaching staff salaries , some outstanding hotels bills , airlines and utilities department bills. We had to pay the utilities else the FFIRI building would be without electricity !!”

The secretary general of the FFIRI was hopeful that the South Africa camp will be properly financed after the meeting of the “World Cup working committee” meeting which included government representatives.

Nabi denied that he or Kaffashian has recommended the name of Majid Saleh , currently one of  Esteghlal’s coaching staff, as the Iranian assistant coach.” We don’t interfere in technical matters and certainly not the appointment of coaches. Queriroz has been in Iran for 3 years and he knows best whom to pick.”

The question that begs an answer is who actually decided on the appointment of Queiroz if neither Kaffashian nor Mohammad Nabi interfere in technical matter!

“Don’t you think that the current status of confusion and uncertainty in regards to Team Melli preparation for the World Cup, including what you just mentioned about the uncertainty of the European camp, while selecting weak to modest teams for practice matches, is patronizing the players and depressing the fans? Don’t you think such poor preparation will have a negative effect and perhaps embarrassing shoreline against us?”.

“If we carry on with our original plans, then there should be no fear from our participation. I believe Guinea was a good opponent despite what many think.” The secretary general responded.

Despite the announcement by the FFIRI that two training camps with as much as 8 practice matches will be conducted by Team Melli , as of now, nothing is for certain. The calamitous affair of Iran’s football continues. Nothing is certain until it actually occurs.

“7 preparations games for Team Melli” Mohammad Nabi

The secretary general of FFIRI has mentioned that Team Melli will have 7 preparations game from now until the start of the World Cup.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi , in a statement to ISNA said ” During our South African training camp , we will play against 4 club sides , while later on we will be facing Belarus , Montenegro , Trinidad & Tobago and Angola.”

In regard to the vacant position of assistant coach that was created by the sudden departure of Omid Namazi and the resignation of Simoez , Mohammad Nabi said “Kaffashian and myslef had a meeting with Queiroz in which the issue of assistant coach was discussed. He (Queiroz) is still looking at some candidates and shall inform us on his decision shortly. I believe he is looking at two assistant coaches from Brazil. There is no sign or any indication that he will select an Iranian assistant coach anytime soon”

When questioned about and Argentinian coach for Team Melli while Iran is facing Argentina in the World Cup , Mohammad Nabi said “he is only a physical Trainer (!!!)”.

Do we understand from Mohammad Nabi that a Physical Trainer is not an important or significant post in a football team coaching staff?

 

 

Yet another setback for Team Melli!

Tehran.

The Secretary General of the Iranian football federation announced the cancellation of  Team Melli training camp in South Africa. The  camp was arranged by Carlos Queiroz and approved by the federation administration however, it was abruptly cancelled like the last camp that was supposed to be held in Portugal. Team Melli was suppose to play a friendly match in South Africa as well.

In a statement to the press, Mohammad Nabi expressed his regret and disappointment for this cancellation , while reminding Queiroz that the preparation for the World Cup should not be halted by any means (…) !”We will arrange another camp , the site in not known yet , but we need to keep the momentum going and do not stop the Team Melli preparation program. It really does not matter where the camp is , be it in Azadi ,  in the park , or Taleghani avenue or even in Queiroz back garden (…), the schedule is set for the training camp is set and the training will continue.” Mehdi Mohammad Nabi insisted.

“Of course, we have a few players playing abroad. I will personally travel to those countries and request the players to join the camp even if we have to pay the penalties for their absence.” Mohammad Nabi boasted.

Team Melli camp is set to start on the 11th of April 2014. The location is not known, but it is highly doubtful if Queiroz back-garden can accommodate about 30 players and the coaching staff that was suggested by Mohammad Nabi.