Month: January 2014

Queiroz will not extend his contract with TeaM Melli.

Ali Kaffashian confirmed that Carlos Queiroz will leave Iran after the conclusion of the World Cup. In a TV interview  , the head of the football federation said that he offered Queiroz the first option to continue coaching team Melli after his contract expires after the World Cup , but the Portuguese coach declined to accept an extension to his contract citing age and offers from other teams that he is seriously considering.

Queiroz will be flying to South Africa to watch Nigeria playing a friendly match against the host nation, according to Kaffashian “He will then fly to Europe to seek a place for the training camp and arrange friendly some matches against European teams preferably at the camp venue.” Apparently , Turkey seems to be the preferable venue for the camp due to proximity and weather.  He also confirmed that Team Melli will meet Guinea on 5th march two days after playing Kuwait in the AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifiers, as part of the World Cup preparation.

Regarding the US$ 30,000 fine that West Asian Football Federation has imposed on Iran for pulling out of the tournament , Kaffashian said “This fine is a formality We have explained why we could not take part in this edition due to the compressed league and our World Cup preparations schedule . They have accepted our reasons and hence no fine will be imposed”

Team Melli U-19 trounce Slovenia.

trounce Slovenia.

Team Melli U-19 bounced back from the disappointing loss to Slovakia  to beat Slovenia 3-0 in St Petesburg Peterburgsky Stadium.

in the Valentin Granatkin Memorial Tournament played on Friday , the young Iranians scored  through Milad Sarlak as early as the 11the minute. Despite the majority of possession , the Iranians could not manage to add further goals i the first half which ended 1-0.

In the second half , Ezzati (59) and Seyyedi (72) added two further goals to complete a fine display by Team Melli U-19 and set up a match vs. Greece.

The next match will be against Greece for the 5th place match. The Greek had already qualified for the match after defeating St Petesburg.

 

Match № 29

The match № 29, play-off round, seventh tournament day

I.R.IRAN – SLOVENIA 3:0 (1:0)

January 10th, 2014, St. Petersburg, Peterburgsky SCC, 200 spectators

Referees: Yury Aponasenko, Aleksandr Rodionov, Roman Milyuchenko

Goals: Sarlak (11), Ezzati (59), Seyyedi (72)

I. R. Iran: Niazmand, Joudaki (c), Sohrabian, Hosseini (Salimi, 78), Sarlak, Bazaj, Seyyedi (Baghdadi, 74), Haghnazari (Soleimani, 46), Najarian (Moharrami, 51), Ezzati (Fathian, 71), Moghtadaei (Hashemi, 46)

Head coach: Ali Dousti Mehr

Slovenia: Sorchan, Primc, Kumer (Plavschich, 63), Poljanec, Vokich, Lorbek, Ojbolt (Petrovchich, 76), Gajich (c) (Adamich, 82), Krivichich, Vidovich (Taneski, 46), Nemanich (Zupanc, 46)

Head coach: Gliha Primoj

Yellow cards: Primc (60), Sarlak (66), Poljanec (77)

Best players: Chiva Milad Sarlak, Gal Primc

 

 

Post match comments

Head coach of the team I.R.Iran Ali Dousti Mehr:

– First of all I want to congratulate Slovenia for playing a good game. The result shows nothing of the real form of the match. I’m not happy with my players. I think players must improve from game to game and today our team has rolled back. We were developing and making progress in the previous matches. Our aim is to repeat the success of playing at the World Championship. But if we keep playing this way we can forget about it. We all, coaches and players, must be studying and developing all the time. I came to this tournament as a student as well. And I’ve already learnt much.

– You filled in the team sheet today quite late. Was it because of the indecision?

– No, we handed the sheet on time.

– You’ve said many times that your main goal is getting on the World Cup. And what’s next?

– Next we must show a good, notable playing there. We want our players to be memorable, we want them to be invited in European clubs. We have bright players who are able to shine on the football arena of the Europe. By the way we have very good contacts and relations with the Russian Football Union. They help us very much with developing Iranian football.

Head coach of the team Slovenia Gliha Primoj:

– A very good game. I liked it. Both teams had equal chances to win. I guess we created even more scoring moments but we haven’t realized any. It happens in football, when you don’t score the opponent scores.

– Your team was wasting scoring moments today. Have you trained or will you train the realization?

– No. There’s no sense. The problem is our individual playing, taking quick and right decisions. How can it be trained? I think good players will acquire this skill as they acquire more experience.

– Today you surprised everybody with your composure in the coach area, after you made us used to your emotional behavior. Why has happened?

– The game was normal: my players’ actions, fair playing and referees’ judging. By the way our delegation representative consulted with the referees. They discussed all the disputable moments and he confessed there were no mistakes in the judging. But my opinion is that referee has to read the game and not only follow the letter of law.

– Do you have prospective stars in your team?

– I think all our youth teams have candidates to the national team. We have a system when every year we take somebody for the national team. That’s where the result comes from, including the win over the team Russia.

Sadeghian & Mosalman suspended by IRIFF

Payam Sadeghian and Mohsen Moslaman two of the most promising Iranian players are suspended indefinitely by IRIFF.

The suspension was a swift reaction by the football federation that was initiated and enforced by Ali Kaffashian after the controversy in Kish island after pictures of members of Team Melli U-22 were published in the social media showing them smoking the Shisha in the hotel they were accommodated in.

Sadeghian and Mosalman were both excluded from the U-22 squad competing in the AFC Asian U-22 championship that will start in Muscat in a few days, while Kaffashian instructed Carlos Queiroz not to select the two mentioned players in any Team Melli squad including the upcoming World Cup.

Three other personal associated with the camp. The team manager ,  doctor , and  the masseur were also given an  indefinite suspension from all football activities for their role in this misdemeanor. It is not clear what was the role of the 3 officials in this incident. There is another player involved whose name was not mentioned at this time.

Both of the Persepolis players , who have been instrumental in Persepolis recent good run , were hopeful of making the final list of Carlos Queiroz for the World

Cup , but this incident has badly hurt their chances and once again highlighted the indiscipline that is rife in Iranian football especially at the younger level. Sadeghian, a a player who is no stranger to controversy , has previous misdemeanors on and off the field , including several public statements in the press criticizing Team Melli players selection process and indirectly accusing Queiroz for ignoring his performance and goals in the league.

Reacting to the news of the suspensions, Rouyanian , Persepolis club CEO , quickly came to the aid of his players and denied that his players were guilty of smoking during the camp in Kish and accused the federation of trying to sabotage his team ahead of the local derby. Rouyanian, no stranger himself to controversy and rhetoric said that the IRIFF had no concrete evidence and came up with a decision in haste without examining the evidence.  Rouyanian did not offer any concrete evidence himself in the defense of the players nor did he elaborate on his serious accusation against the IRIFF.

Team Melli U-19 disappoints against Slovakia.

All hopes of young Iranians making their mark in the Valentine Granatkin memorial tournament were dashed when they lost the final match of the group A againt Slovakia 2-1. Iran was leading the table with 6 points from 2 games ahead of their European opponent but failed to stamp their mark when it was most needed.

Despite having a large percentage of ball possession , the failure by the young Iranians to convert their chances was their Achilles heels. Slovakia , playing strong and aggressive football managed to score two goal from much less chances than Iran.

Iran were shocked when only 3 minutes passed , The Slovakian forward Haraslim pounced on an opportunity and opened the scoring for the Slovaks. Iran’s response was , however, quite swift. Najarian scored Iran’s goal 5 minutes later to restore parity in the game.

While Team Melli U-19 was slowly taking a hold of the game, they were once again stunned when the referee awarded a penalty for the Slovaks which Haraslin the scorer of the first goal, converted to make it 2-1 for his team. The first half ended with the Slovak leading but with difficulty.

All hopes for Iran’s recovery in the second half were met with strong and disciplined Slovakian defense. The several chances the Iranians had were all wasted in a profligate manner by the young players.

With this loss , Iran will be playing for the 5th to 8th place in this major youth tournament . The next match will be on the 10th January against Slovenia.

Team Melli U-19 vs Slovakia
Team Melli U-19 vs Slovakia

Match № 18

The match № 18, group A, fifth tournament day

I. R. IRAN – SLOVAKIA 1:2 (1:2)

January 7th, 2014, Saint-Petersburg, Peterburgsky SCC, 300 spectators

Goals: Haraslin (3, 20, pen.), Najarian (8)

Referees: Nikolay Voloshin, Aleksey Manin, Denis Savin

I. R. Iran: Amini, Salimi, Hosseini (c), Sarlak, Aghaei, Bazaj, Seyyedi, Haghnazari, Moharrami, Najarian, Hashemi (Sohrabian, 46)

Head coach: Ali Doustimehr

Slovakia: Bajza, Vavro, Slaninka (Rajnik, 86), Vodezcky (Lovas, 90), Kacher (Siplak, 90), Gric, Shpalek (Vlchek, 89), Berejny, Kupec, Haraslin (c), Chvatal (Kotrik, 67)

Head coach: Milan Malatinsky

 

Yellow cards: Salimi (41), Aghaei (79), Kacher (79)

Best players: Armin Sohrabian, Denis Vavro

 

Armin Sohrabian - Iran's best player vs. Slovakia
Armin Sohrabian – Iran’s best player vs. Slovakia

Post match comments

Head coach of  Iran Doustimehr Ali:

– I congratulate  Slovakia for their deserved victory. Their players showed their best during the game, played organized in the defense and made quick attacks. We couldn’t transfer our domination into the goal.

– Your team had several good long distant shots in the first half. Why did you stop using it in the second half and preferred to come to penalty area where the defense was much more solid?

– Slovakian team played very compact, closed all areas and created opportunities  even for outside the box. That is why we wanted to play wider, use our wings more often and send the ball from sides to the penalty area. But our opponent had a well-organized defense and stopped all our attempts. But I should note also the referee’s mistakes. Through his faults the penalty kick he called was not fair and other time the penalty kick can be pointed to our favor.

– Football in Iran is improving. Do you think your players have aspirations to play for European clubs and championships?

– For sure, they want it. That is why we come to different tournaments, as this one, in order to show our players. We thank the organizers for this providing us with such opportunity.

– Are the players, who collided with their heads, all right now?

– Yes, everything is all right. Our player feels good.

 

Head coach of the team Slovakia Milan Malatinsky:

– We enjoyed very much playing against Iran. It’s a good team, they have very good players and it was difficult to play one to one against them. We had to provide constant support to each other. But we managed to score and we are happy to win against such a strong team. We were not allowed to play as we used to, so it was quite hard for us. The Iranians are very quick and good at controlling the ball. So we decided to concentrate on defense trying to close them down while making quick counterattacks.

– After quite an early goal you turned to defensive strategy and passed the initiative to the opponent. Was it your tactics or it was the Iranians who made you play in defense? You paid for it with the missed goal.

– We just had no opportunity to play open football. The Iranians are very quick, they were pressing us in all the zones, so our players sometimes didn’t have time to take the right decision. We didn’t pass the initiative, we just couldn’t oppose. But when we were able to run forward we created dangerous moments one of them was finished with the penalty kick.

– By the way, your player executed the penalty kick in a risky style. Was it his own decision?

– He made a penalty kick in Panenka style, thus paying tribute to the Czechoslovak player. But this was his decision. I’m glad he has scored.

– In the end of the match when your players ran in counterattack three to one you asked one of the forwards to play by himself. But if he made a pass they would have come out two to one and make score 3:1, so the ending of the game would be less nervous. Why did you decide he had to strike himself?

– As you’ve fairly mentioned the ending was quite nervous and I wanted him to hold the ball and run out the clock a bit. I wanted him to do something. That’s why I shouted “By yourself!” Though now I understand that I had to give another advice. But that’s what has happened. The nerves were strained to the full, we were eager to win, so in retrospect I did not give him the correct command. As for the moment of collision, I haven’t come to the change room yet, but hope it is not injury and our player will be able to play next match.

 

Nekounam on his way out of Esteghlal

The Captain of Team Melli has finally decided to leave his Club Esteghlal.

In a statement to ISNA news agency ,  Nekounam said that negotiations between Ghalenoei and Fatthollazadeh regarding his demands and future in the club was fruitless and he was lead to believe that Esteghlal does not want him at the club as he may leave anytime he wishes.

“When Pejman Montazeri has made it known of his intention to leave Esteghal, the club including Ghalenoei did all they can to persuade him to stay ” Nekounam added” However , it was not the way they acted in my case as they simply said that I can leave if I wish!”

the 33 years old Javad Nokounam who joined the popular Esteghlal club in 2012 , was bitter about this treatment by the club and the coach and hence he declared his intention that he will be leaving. Nekounam who played for Osasuna in the La Liga for 5 successful seasons, said that he has offers from Qatari and Chinese clubs on the table.

The apathy and disinterest shown by the club towards Nekounam is due to the public demand by Nekounam for the club to respect the terms of contracts with the players especially when it comes to payments of wages. That did not endear him to the club. Esteghlal , notorious for late payment of wages ,

had problems with virtually all of their players , however , it was the minority and the stronger character players who dared to

challenge the club management openly. The more vociferous of them like Nekounam went public in hope of forcing the club to pay up.

On the playing field, Nekounam was far from his best with the club as his form has dipped and was hardly instrumental or effective in the league as expected by Ghaleneoi. This form , or perhaps the lack of real interest shown by Nekounam while playing for Esteghlal, has dampened the enthusiasm of the very demanding Amir Ghalenoei , who has little sympathy with players who show contempt or lack of form on or off the field. Ghalenoei never shied away from confronting even the most famous or popular players when ever he

What is clear now, is that Nekounam is finally on his way out of Estghalal after a turbulent and difficult time in Tehran.

 

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U-19’s put 5 past Finland

Team Melli U-19 continued its excellent performance in the Valentin Grantakin memorial tournament by comprehensively defeating Finland 5 – 0 in  Saint-Petersburg. The match played in group A, 

Iran lead the first half with 3 goal margin before adding a couple of goals in the second to seal a convincing win and with maximum points from two matches. Team Melli U-19 now is leading group A on goal difference from Slovakia who beat Belarus 2-0 in the same group. Mohammad Reza Bazaj was selected as best Iranian player of the match.

In the final match of the group, Iran and Slovakia will battle it out for the lead of the group on Tuesday 7th January. A draw or better will ensure a qualification to the semi finals on 10th January where the opponent could very will be the hosts Russia.

 

After match comments

Head coach of the team Finland Jarkko Wiss:

– I congratulate our opponents with a good, spectacular game and moreover with a technically skilled team.

– What was the reason of such a big defeat?

– This certain match: we didn’t obey the task for the game, and in second half it was too late to change anything. The task was to control the ball constantly.

– Finnish team used to win the matches on the Memorial previous years. Each year there were leaders in your team who showed outstanding play. Is there any top performer in your team on this tournament?

– I can’t point out any player in this staff. May be our captain is a real leader, but he is out because of injury. He is the best midfielder, all the others are equal in level.

– Talking about this match, will it be difficult to recover after such a big defeat?

– You are quite right. Even with adults it is difficult to recover after big loss, and we have youth team. But we have a good staff, so we will cope with it.

Head coach of the team I.R. Iran Dousti Mehr Ali:

– I want to congratulate the opponents! In spite of the smashing score they made it quite challenging for us. Team Finland is a team of character. But we are more experienced. We have the World Cup passed and coming. That’s why we won.

– The tournament keeps up quite a tough schedule – 2 matches within 3 days. Is that uncomfortable for your team?

– Surely, it’s very hard. And the consequences to be expected are weariness and injuries. But we need this experience. You see, the World Cup keeps up the same schedule. So this schedule is another training for us. Not only for the players but also for the coaches and doctors. We learn to recover in one day!

– Two games – two wins. You must be in a very good mood?

– Thank you. Yes! But this mood is not only because of the wins but because of the fact that my team progresses from game to game. I would mention once more that the experience we get here will be very useful at the coming World Cup.

[divider]

FINLAND – I.R. IRAN 0:5 (0:3)

January 5th, 2014, Saint-Petersburg, Peterburgsky SCC, 200 spectators

Goals: Najarian (7), Joudaki (21), Seyyedi (31), Baghdadi (51), Fathian (75)

Referees: Ilya Trishin, Kirill Bolshakov, Ivan Kichimasov

Finland: Mujunen, Antikainen, Lehtinen (c), Salmela (Karlsson, 46), Jarvinen, Nurmela, Peiponen (Ojanpera, 73), Blomqvist (Friberg, 46), Pietola (Savolainen, 46), Jääskeläinen, Rämä (Jouini, 46)

Head coach: Jarkko Wiss

I.R. Iran: Amini, Joudaki (c), Sohrabian, Salimi (Hashemi, 78), Hosseini (Moharrami, 46), Sarlak (Soleimani, 59), Aghaei, Bazaj, Seyyedi (Fathian, 72), Haghnazari (Ezzati, 71), Najarian (Baghdadi, 46)

Head coach: Ali Dousti Mehr

 

Best players: Alex Lehtinen, Mohammad Reza Bazaj

 

Mohammad Reza Bazaj
Mohammad Reza Bazaj

Team Melli U-19 starts with a convinving win.

Iran youth team U-19 defeated Belarus in their firts match of the group “A” of  Valentine Granatkin Memorial football tournament played on January 3, 2014 in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
Ali Doustimeher and Mehdi Mahdavikia youngesters ended the match winning 3-0 with goals scored by Saeed Aghaye (9), Mahan Baghdadi (56) Yahya Najjarian (67)

In other match in Group “A”:  Slovakia defeated Finland 3-2 sharing the lead of the table with Iran with 3 points, While Team Melli U-19 is top of the 4 team group with +3 goal difference.

Iran will be facing Finland on Sunday. While Belarus plays Slovakia.

 

BELARUS – I. R. IRAN 0:3 (0:1)

January 3rd, 2014, Saint-Petersburg, Peterburgsky SCC, attendance: 200 spectators

Goals: Aghaei (9), Baghdadi (56), Najarian (67)

Referees: Artyom Chistyakov, Aleksandr Rodionov, Andrei Kuzhelev (all Russia)

Belarus: Shcharbitski (g), Paulavets (c), Kastsiushkin, Valynets, Tarakanau (Vasilyeu, 63), Shauchenka (Chmyrykau, 77), Klimovich (Kastsiuchyk, 74), Yarotski (Sarokin, 53), Lukashyk (Kukharchyk, 61), Nosko (Baiduk, 70), Shybun

Head coach: Viktar Barel

Iran : Payam Niazmand, Meysam Jodaki, Iman Salimi, Majed Hosseini, Milad Sarlak, Mohammad Bazaj (75′ Sadiq Moharrami), Sivaush Haghnazari (78′ Mohammadreza Soleimani), Yahya Najjarian (75′ Yusuf Seyyedi), Mostafa Hashemi (80′ Armin Sohrabian), Saeed Aghaye (87′ Mojtaba Moghtadi) Mobin Ezzati(58′ Mahan Baghdadi)

Head coach: Ali Doustimehr

Best players: Mikita Valynets, Siavash Haghnazari

 

 

Kaffashian criticizes Mansourian for resigning.

Ali Kaffashin , the head of FFIRI criticized Alireza Mansourian  for reigning his post as the head coach of the Team Melli U-22 teams a fortnight before the team taking part in the Inaugural Asian U-22 Championship in Muscat Oman.

Kaffashain said “Mansourian should not have left the team in such critical stage. We have made it clear that the priority for us is the participation of Team Melli in the FIFA World Cup. This takes precedence over all other activities at the moment and as such even the League program is adjusted to serve the needs of the World Cup training schedule. Team Melli U-22 is of a lower priority”

Kaffashian , did not agree with Mansourian reasoning and said  “ although Iran would have been the main title contender in Muscat , if we sent a full strength team , we have accepted the fact that under-strength U-22 team is a good enough team and we are look for participating rather than winning the title. Other priorities has dictated this and we accepted it, hence Mansourian was not in line with our objectives.”

Human Afazeli , who was working alongside Mansourian in the U-22 team has agreed to take over the head coach post from Mansourian.

Kaffashian disclosed that an official offer was given to Vingada to coach Iran’s Ol, ympics team or the U-23 team, knows as “Omid Team”. The FFIRI is awaiting a response from the Portuguese coach. Kaffashian admitted that the FFIRI offer to Vingada might not be too attractive due to lack of financial resources of the federation, but hoped that the Portuguese coach might be tempted to work in Iran and be close to his friend & compatriot Carlos Queiroz.

Pejman Montazeri signs for Qatari Club “Umm Salal”

After a period of suspense, Esteghlal and Team Melli defender Pejman Montazeri eventually signed for Qatari Club “Umm Salal”.

Montazeri has declared his intention to leave Esteghlal after he grown tired of the club delaying payment of wages as a result of Esteghlal’s. While the Cheif Executive  financial problem. Montazeri was a number of many players who refused to train after exhausting all resources with the club to adhere to their terms of contract and timely payment of their wages. Chief Executive Fathollazadeh , through some clever maneuvering and promises managed to hold some players from leaving the club and continue training and playing , but it was just a matter of time for players to lose patience.

The long standing financial problem of Esteghlal disrupted several training sessions and threats of leaving the club from several players including the Captain, Javd Nekounam. The atmosphere created by the club;s failing to respect its financial commitment , threatened to disturb  the team’s harmony and its strong challenge for the title.

Montazeri holding Umm Salal Jersey after the signing ceremony.
Montazeri holding Umm Salal Jersey after the signing ceremony.

Montazeri , who had several offers from Qatar and China , eventually settled for “Umm Salal” and signed an 18 months contract believed to be worth US 1.5 million. Esteghlal would be receiving 20% of that amount according to Fathollazadeh.

Montazeri will be the third active Iranian player in the QSL alongside both of his former teammates, Fereydoon Zandi and Mojtaba Jabbari.both playing for Al Ahli club.

The 30 years old ex Foolad Khuzestan and Esteghlal defender , will be playing along several notable players in Umm Salal such as Brazilian forward, Cabore , natrualized Brazilan Qatari  Fábio César and the Autralian defender Saša Ognenovski  who is the captain of the team.

 

Afazeli leading a depleted U-22 team.

Human Afazeli has the most unenviable job in Iran’s football.

In two weeks’ time, a depleted Team Melli U-22 will be taking part in the first AFC Asian U-22 Championship in the Omani capital, Muscat, without its best players. The refusal by the clubs such as Persepolis , Sepahan , Zob Ahan and Naft Tehran to release their players, frustrated Ali Reza Mansourian Who sought support from the FFIRI bosses as a last refuge.

The head coach asked Ali Kaffashian to personally intervene with club coaches to allow the young guns  to be released in the services if the U-22 squad. Kaffashian was unwilling to react to Mansourian’s request as the head of the FFIRI was not willing to face the wrath of Ali Daei or any other coaches who regularly complain about national teams taking away their best players. With the World Cup training schedule already straining relations between Queiroz and IFF on one side and the clubs and their coaches on the other, Kaffashian did not want to open another front for Team Melli U-22.

Mansourian , believing that the lack of support from his peers and the clubs , is detrimental to the team’s chances in Muscat , especially since Iran’s group is the group of death , opted to submit his resignation rather than face the media and fans calling for his head in case of failure in Muscat.

Mansourian recommended Human Afazeli as the most suitable person to coach the team under the circumstances, but he also believed that his successor, whoever might be, will be taking a big risk in the light of lack of support by the federations and the club.

After an initial hitch, Afazeli agreed terms with FFIRI and immediately proceeded to build his master plan to conquer Asia albeit with a depleted team lacking its best players. Afazeli , a shrewd tactician and one of the best analyst of the game in Iran , will certainly have a difficult job ahead but it is not all doom and gloom for the aspiring coach.

A large number of players in the list have already played together in several age levels including the team taking part in the AFC U-19 championship 2012, Good understanding and comradeship is already prevailing with this group.