Year: 2018

Fifa gives green light to Sierra Leone friendly in Azadi

Sierra Leone Stars hopes of meeting World Cup-bound Iran in a friendly encounter in Tehran on Saturday, 17 March has been confirmed by football world governing body, Fifa.

The contest will take place in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

A Fifa spokesperson told Football Sierra Leone UK via email that there was a need for proper clarification ahead of schedule match.

The match was uncertain after FIFA’s recognised SLFA head, Isha Johansen, and her Scribe; Chris Kamara informed the organisation that they were unaware of the ‘friendly.

Extracts of the communication read -“For the captioned international friendly match, please be informed there was a need for some clarifications before the necessary authorisation could be extended, but the said match will go ahead in Tehran.”

It could be recalled that on October 2017, Isha Johansen and Kamara were both ordered by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to step aside following charges of abuse of office and pilfering of public funds. The matter is ongoing.

In spite of the above, Fifa says they recognise the Johansen leadership until Integrity checks and elections are conducted.

The arranged test scheduled will be Iran’s first 2018 World Cup warm-up encounter and the first between the two nations.

Leone Stars including just three foreign-based players will take on the best Asian football team.

The foreign-based are Finish-based TP-47 striker Thomas Koroma, JS Hercules midfielder Abdul Sesay and attacker Abu Bakarr Kargbo from fourth-tier German side Berliner AK 07.

The two countries have a very good international relation and Sierra Leone for the first time considered to play a friendly by a team heading to a World Cup.

The African minnows ranked 98th while Iran is the best Asian football team and 33rd in the world.

Iran are in Group B at the FIFA World Cup alongside Spain, Morocco and Portugal.

Carlos Queiroz’s men will open their Russia 2018 campaign with a match against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15, before taking on Spain in Kazan on 20 June.

Ashkan Dejagah under observation

Ashkan Dejagah, is undergoing his recovery and rehabilitation under the supervision of the team Melli physiotherapist.

According to the Mehr News Agency, after the injury to Ashkan Dejagah in England and surgery on his injured foot, based on Carlos Queiroz instruction and in coordination with Aitor Karanka, the manager of Nottingham Forest team, as well as the direct relationship between the two medical teams, Michelle, the physiotherapist of the Team Melli was sent to London to allow the captain to undergo a recovery program with the help of this member of the national team medical group .

Queiroz  in his last interview with the Football Federation website said that “We are aware of the status of Ashkan Dejagah and support him fully. We are in direct contact with his club and  trying to do our best to recover and prepare Ashkan for the World Cup. “

Ashkan , who has yet to play his first match with Nottingham Forest, is expected to fully recover in April 2018.

Ghalenoei criticizes the match vs. Sierra Leone

Amir Ghalenoei, ex-Team Melli and current Zob Ahan coach , spoke about the upcoming match of Team Melli versus Sierra Leone team.

“We need to find out if our international communications director and our Public Relations are such that we can attract better teams to Iran? In the days I was a coach of the national team, I swear to God that I had arranged the international friendlies, preparation matches and logistics two years in advance.” Ghalenoei said.

The former Estighlal coach and the record holder of league titles with different Iranian clubs, added “although the Football Federation was suspended at that time, with the in-fighting between the two political factions within the FFIRI, I said to myself that even if I have little time as the coach of Team Melli, I would do something significant”

Ghalenoei prompted “We should look for the preparation program of the national team’s technical staff.  Certainly, such games like Sierra Leone, do not serve Iran’s football, but the question remains, have we been able to meet the demands of the technical staff with all those political problems surrounding us? I doubt that the technical staff of Team Melli would have been interested to meet such a team in the preparation for the World Cup, perhaps they had no choice but grudgingly accept the game as they had no other options. “

In another part of the interview, Ghalenoei spoke about the Secretary of the Football Federation Mohammad Reza Saket, “He (Saket) has 15 years of administration experience in football, but this game against a weak African team, does not help our cause.”

“I’m sorry, to say this,” he said. “but, in countries like us, some executives work 20 hours a day; this means disaster. This shows that our country is a hundred years behind. The executive‘s disillusionment will be disastrous in the second month. One manager should work eight hours, have eight hours to rest and have eight hours to go to his family; where not a programmer, a manager is proud to say that I am at work from five in the morning or I work for 20 hours; I have to work on everything in the program and the perspective.

Ghalenoei praised Carlos Queiroz for his results with Team Melli. “In general, his reputation and fame meant international recognition, and after six years he has become an aristocratic football coach. In countries like Iran, where there is systematic lack of planning, managers who can make a difference and are competent , do not have a chance or not given the opportunity  to be leaders, and there are some who are elevated by nepotism, who  get to position they do not deserve and serve without much vision or success. The end result is that nobody is enjoying football run by these people.”

Squad for Sierra Leone match

22 player have been called to the Team Melli squad which is facing the west African side Sierra Leone on 17th march 2018 as part of the preparation for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018′

The majority of the squad are the local League players with the exception of Kaveh Rezaei.

Ali Alipour (Persepolis) , Omid Noorafkan , Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal) and Ali Gholizadeh (Saipa Alborz) have been called for the first time to Team Melli squad.

Meanwhile MohammadReza Khanzadeh has been recalled after a long break from the team. The surprise omission is the Zob Ahan forward Morteza Tabrizi

 

The SQUAD

Name
1 ABDOLLAHZADEH, Ahmad
2 AGHAEI, Saeed
3 ALIPOUR, Ali
4 AMIRI, Vahid
5 ANSARI, Mohammad
6 BIRANVAND, Alireza
7 CHESHMI, Rouzbeh
8 EBRAHIMI, Omid
9 GHAFOORI, Vourya
10 GHOLIZADEH, Ali
11 HOSSEINI, Jalal
12 HOSSEINI, Sayed Hossein
13 KAMYABINIA, Kamaleddin
14 KARIMI, Ali
15 KHANZADEH, Mohammadreza 
16 LAK, Hamed
17 MAZAHERI, Mohammad Rashid
18 MONTAZERI, Pejman
19 NOORAFKAN, Omid
20 REZAEI, Kaveh
21 REZAEIAN, Ramin
22 TORABI, Mehdi

Team Melli Hopeful: Morteza Tabrizi

Morteza Tabrizi, is one more serious contender for a Team Melli jersey come June 2018 when the whole world will be enjoying the FIFA World cup 2018
A late developer in football, Tabrizi only came into contention a couple of season ago. Tall and skillful, he has an Ali Daei like style. His heading ability and goals from headers are becoming a trademark.

Tabrizi, unlike his surname suggests, was actually born in Hamedan on January 6th, 1991. Played his early football in Talar Vahdat in his home town then Mes Kerman. His senior career started at Pas Hamedan where the tall forward stuttered and only managed to score a few (5 goals) in just short of 3 years. Despite that , he was actually called for the Iran U23 team.

The break for Tabrizi came when he was transferred to Zob Ahan in 2013. The central forward was given ample opportunities to prove his worth and more playing time. Tabrizi`s confidence grew and with it came the goals.
Tabrizi towering physique helped him in scoring freely and specifically beating his markers in the air. He eventually attracted Team Melli selectors attention and was called several times, however he has yet to make his debut.
This season is by far the best that the 27 years old Tabrizi has played in his career. The AFC Champions league seems to be his favorite.


The only doubt that exists in this potentially great match winner is his confidence in front if the goal. He seems to be wasteful at times and could have scored many goals than he actually has if had more assertiveness and determination qualities. His conversion rate could be much better. A good mentor would make Tabrizi a great forward for steam Mell i.

The competition up front for places is quite stiff. In fact the best players of thus current Team Kelli are all forwards. Tabrizi will have a tough time dislodging the others for a place in that plane which will take team Kelli to Moscow, however, he has exceptional heading ability that only Azmoun can match in the squad.

Senior career*

 

Years Team Apps Goals
2010–2013 Pas Hamedan     35 5
2013–  Zob Ahan     133 37
National teams
2012–2014 Iran U23 5 2

 

Zlatko Kranjcar is a leading candidate to coach Omid team.

The Iranian Football Federation is considering the appointment a head coach of Iran’s U23 (Omid) team to prepare and represent the country in the Asian Games 2018  Jakarta, although the team has already wasted a lot of opportunity, as the FFIRI Technical Committee should have selected a coach last month.

Federation officials have been negotiating with some domestic and foreign coaches during the past few days. Even the president of the federation, Mahdi Taj, told reporters yesterday that the talks are continuing, and this week the coach’s name will be announced.

The former head coach of the Sepahan squad Zlatko Krancjar, who failed to meet expectations this season with the Esfahani club, is one of the main choices for the federation, and even the Football Federation’s secretary Mohammad Reza Saket had talks with the Croatian coach.

FFIRI has always been a failure with the U23/U22 teams. For some odd reason, they have never managed to get their acts together at this age level and seem to have some complex on how to deal at this age level football teams. Most of the problems are self-inflicted, though including their chronic late preparation, and last minute search for a coach and finally poor preparations.

Krancjar, who has arrived in Tehran for a few days, is a favorite with the Federation officials who have started serious talks with him. It was confirmed that a meeting was carried out with federation officials in one of the hotels in Tehran, but the results are not clear.

Krancjar was the main choice to be the head coach of the Omid team in in December 2014 under the leadership of Habib Kashani, but the blatant intervention of the Ministry of Sports who claimed that the Croat does not conform for ethical/religious values (…), eventually meant that the federation so dependent on the government, had to shelve the idea of recruiting Karanjcar. Th coaching of the team was given to the novice coach Mohammad Khakpour, who failed to achieve anything and also failed to qualify for the Olympics.

Team Melli to play a friendly vs. Sierra Leone

Azadi Stadium will host an international friendly on Saturday 17th March between Team Melli and  Sierra Leone national team.

The west African nation is ranked 114 in FIFA ranking and has never made it to a major tournament before. For Team Melli , it will be a welcome practice despite the weaker opposition and a chance for Querioz to test some domestic league players who have showed great potentials in the Persian Gulf League and the AFC Champions league.

There is a slim chance   of any Legionnaires making an appearance for Team Melli in this match.

Prolific Iran maintain futsal hegemony

  • IR Iran build on FIFA Futsal World Cup bronze with another Asian crown
  • Sixteen-nation event held in Chinese Taipei for first time
  • Iranian Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh named tournament’s best player

Competition for Asian supremacy in eleven-a-side football is finely balanced as evidenced by the finale to last year’s FIFA World Cup qualifying in the world’s most populous continent. The same cannot be said on the futsal court, however, as IR Iran once again underlined their supremacy in emphatic fashion.

The Iranians stormed to a 12th continental victory in Chinese Taipei on Sunday, retaining the title they reclaimed two years ago. Only Japan have broken Iran’s stranglehold, winning on three occasions, but the east Asians had no answer in the tournament decider this time. Iran proved their breakthrough third-place finish at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016 was no fluke, with an unusually heavy 4-0 scoreline in the decider.

Broad reach throughout Asia
A total of 30 teams from all corners of Asia competed in the qualifying competition, demonstrating the growing appeal of the game across much of the continent. Chinese Taipei hosted the event for the first time, though they previously welcomed the globe’s best for the Futsal World Cup in 2004.

That 30-strong crowd was cut to 16 teams for the ten-day event in New Taipei City. Much focus was, of course, on the home side but locals were to be left frustrated with Chinese Taipei edged out of qualification by Bahrain, despite a win over Malaysia. Vietnam topped the group, but there was to be disappointment for the south-east Asians as the 2016 semi-finalists were eliminated by Uzbekistan.

There was no surprises as Japan and Iran shaded Uzbekistan and Iraq as all four progressed from their respective groups. Lebanon, meanwhile, were arguably the surprise packages. Despite having never reached a continental semi-final, Lebanon defeated 2015 semi-finalists Thailand 5-2 to top their group. The Cedars’ luck, however, ran out in the knockout stage with a heartbreaking 9-8 penalty shoot-out defeat against Iraq.

Iran’s accolades

  • Most individual goals: Hossein Tayebi (14)
  • Most team goals: 46
  • Tournament’s best player: Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh

Japan eased past Iraq with a 3-0 scoreline in the first semi-final, while Iran crushed Uzbekistan 7-1. Despite the lop-sided scoreline in the final, it was Japan who had the better of early exchanges only for some profligacy in front of goal to prove costly.

The tournament’s best player Ali Hassanzadeh scored with just a minute remaining remaining of the half, before the Iranians finished in style by scoring a further three to wrap up their title defence.

“Yes, it was a little bit difficult at first in the game, but I was 100 per cent confident that we would pull through and score the goals we needed to win,” said IR Iran’s Alireza Rafieipor. “This victory is just the starting point for us. From now we are focused on 2020 [World Cup]. We are number three in the world and everyone is expecting us to get even better.”

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS..

Team Melli Futsal confirmed its continental superiority after it won the AFC Futsal Championship Title after defeating Japan 4 – 0  this evening in Taipei.

Iran has now won the title for the 12th time and has also successfully defended its last championship crown. 

The first half ended 1-0 for Team Melli when a late strike by Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh broke the deadlock.

The Asian MVP , Hassanzadeh opened the scoring early in the 2nd half to make it 2-0 . 

Farhad Tavakoli added a third while Hossein Tayebi consolidated his position as the top scorer of the championship with Iran’s 4th goal to make his tally 13 goals.

Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh won the Championship Top Accolade, to make it a hat trick of titles for Team Melli.

Mahdi Javid “We will take our game to the next level in the final, “

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Taipei:

The clash between Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan in Sunday’s AFC Futsal Championship 2018 final will be the best yet according to futsal star Mahdi Javid.

Iran may have cruised into their 13th AFC Futsal Championship Final but the 11-time winners will be in for their toughest test yet when they face former champions Japan, the team that defeated them in the 2014 climax, according to Javid.

“While I want to make it clear that all the other teams who have participated in this tournament are good, Japan are something special,” said the 30-year-old forward.

“They have been champions of Asia three times, have good players with good technique, and we respect them a lot as opponents.

“I believe the final will be a very exciting match and the quality of the play will be the highest the tournament has seen so far.”

Kaoru Morioka, the man to lead Japan’s challenge
Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh & Hossein Tayebi

Having faced off against each other on a number of occasions in AFC Futsal competitions, the Samurai Blue are no strangers to Iran, added team captain Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh.

“We have analysed Japan and have played them several times, so we know them very well and what we have to do in the game,” he said.

 “I know many of their team, having played against them, so  I can say that individuals like Kaoru Morioka are very good players. And, of course, any team that reach the final obviously have a high level of ability.

 “Winning the title is very difficult but retaining it is even more of a challenge.”

 Iran have not lost a game at the AFC Futsal Championship since that final in Ho Chi Min City four years ago, a run that stretches to 11 games unbeaten.

During that period, the Central Asians also famously reached secured the bronze medal at the  FIFA Futsal World Cup 2016, the best ever performance by an AFC Member Association at a FIFA Futsal event.

“The answer to why IR Iran is so good at futsal is: I believe Iranians are born to play futsal and it is in our blood,” added Javid.

“That’s why, in many cases, we’re better than others nations. Hopefully we can show that again in Sunday’s final.

Photos: AFC