Author: admin

Another turtle pace progress in Privatization.

For the last two decades, subsequent governments in Iran have promised that Persepolis and Esteghlal clubs will be privatized and handed over to the private sector.

The Privatization saga first started in the tenure of President Mohammed Khatami, however, he left without much progress on the issue. The next President, Ahmadinejad, a passionate football fan, was the most enthusiastic supporter of this project and many thought Persepolis and Esteghlal will finally escape from total government control and be run as a proper and professional sports club.

Ahmadinejad, left and like many of his projects, the clubs privatization never saw the light of the day.  Hassan Rouhani, seen by many as a pragmatic and relatively liberal president took over. Like his predecessor, Rouhani was a strong football supporter who also liked to see the two most popular clubs privatized.

 So far, what culminated from the government’s Privatization project is nothing but false promises and heartaches for the fans.  Every now and then, the Ministry of youth and sports pops up with statements, further plans and more promises to keep the fans quiet. The timing that the authorities pick to talk about its Privatization project and normally coincides with periods of public discontent with the government and economy in Iran. Recently, Iran has experienced deadly countrywide protests against the authorities for huge increases in fuel prices.

The latest promise in this saga is the recent Youth and Sports statement of the transfer of the two stadiums (basically, training facilities) in Darfeshifar and Marghoubkar and their registration in the name of the two clubs Esteghlal and Persepolis.

ISNA quoting the Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Taghizadeh, said “this transfer has been the most effective privatization steps during this recent years,” He also added "Persepolis Club has carried out brand registration operations for forty-five brands  with Corporate Registration Bureau and we are looking forward to the same step to be taken by Esteghlal"

“ So far we have held nineteen meetings with the managers of the Privatization Organization and Stock Exchange for the transfer of the two stadiums and the brand registration of Esteghlal and Persepolis clubs as assets. It has been the most effective privatization steps during this period. “

Taghizadeh said at the end: "The trademark registration is one of the most important programs of Privatization to the concerned organizations and so far Persepolis Club has successfully carried out brand registration operations."

Iran’s bi-polar football where everything starts and ends with the two famous Tehran clubs. Persepolis and Esteghlal have been siphoning millions of dollars from government budgets since the revolution. The regime, being careful of the political sensitivity and the popularity of these two clubs hence their clear influence on the masses, have turned blind eyes on the amount of chronic corruption and mismanagement existing in these two clubs by executives and managers who are sanctioned and appointed by the government itself.

Zahra Khajavi breaks shut-out goalkeeping record.

Zahra Khajavi, Vochan Kordestan's Goalkeeper broke Iran's record for goal shut-out.

The 20 years old, women's Team Melli keeper Kept a clean sheet for the first half of her women's soccer league team's clash against Shahrdari Bam breaking the record with 1035 minutes of a clean sheet. Payam Niazmand, Stephan's goalkeeper held the previous record which was achieved this season.

Khajavi who was always going to be pushed to break or extend the record against league leaders Shahrdari Bam managed to finally do so but conceded early in the second half at the top of the league clash this afternoon. The game ended 3–2 to Shahrdari Bam Kerman, who opened the scoring early in the second half.

Zahra Khajavi, seeking a historic record.

A 21 years old girl is determined to break a record in Iran's football.

Despite all the restrictions on women's sports and particularly football, Iranian girls have hardly lost enthusiasm to pursue their dreams and in many cases, they have actually excelled. Following the Iranian Women's futsal team winning the Asian title in style, and the nomination of  Katayoon Khosrowyar in the AFC coach of the year category, another girl Zahra Khajavi, is seeking fame in her own right.

This time there is a historic record-breaking attempt of a clean sheet. Zahra Khajavi is the Team Melli goalkeeper and plays for  Vochan Kordestan. She has already amassed 10 matches with a clean sheet, a grand total of 990 minutes without conceding.

Zahra started playing futsal at the age of nine.  After she transferred to football, she joined Pas Hamedan club. The young Iranian goalkeeper, who has been supported by her coach to play as a goalkeeper, is already playing football for six years in the Women's Premier League. She has played for Pas Hamedan, Ashtrankooh Azna, Shahrdari Bam, Rah Yab Sanandaj (two years) and now Vochan Kordestan.

Zahra
Zahra Khajavi 

The promising Zahra, who already played for Iran's under-19 and the senior team needs to keep a clean sheet for another 35 minutes in her next match, to claim Iran's record in men and women's football. Currently, Payam Niazmand of Team Melli and Sepahan goalkeeper holds the record for men's goal shut out.

 However, Khajavi and her team have a tough task ahead as they will be meeting one of the top teams' Shahrdari Bam on Friday and will make history in Iranian men's and women's soccer if they succeed. The two teams Shahrdari Bam and Vochan Kordestan have identical records with 10 wins and 30 points respectively without defeat and will compete on Friday for the midseason title.

Amir Ghalenoei, The pride of Iranian coaches

Amir Ghalenoei is the most decorated coach in the Iranian domestic league. His record stands at 5 championships titles, 3 with Esteghlal and 2 with Sepahan. All this is about to change as the controversial Ghalenoei is leading the charge for another championship and another record-breaking season.

Sepahan already holds the record for 21 consecutive undefeated matches in the Iranian Premier League. An old record leftover from the tenth Premier League era. In that year, Sepahan, coached by Amir Ghalenoei, lost against Esteghlal in the seventh week but remained unbeaten until the twenty-ninth week of the league when it lost to Mes Kerman.

This record is about to collapse. Again it is Sepahan and again it is Amir Ghalenoei. Interestingly, this time it also started with a defeat against Esteghlal, which was last season. Since then, the yellow and black jerseys have not been defeated. The only zero in the league table standings of the current Iranian Premier League is under losses for Sepahan.  Naft Masjid Soleiman finished the half-season unbeaten, but eventually, they were defeated in Tabriz in the 16th week. Sepahan with 31 points leads the table ahead of Persepolis with goal difference.

 

When Amir Ghalenoei set the record for undefeated matches, he also won the title with Sepahan.  He won the league title twice for the "Nisf Jahan" club and can now break his record for the third time for Sepahan. Ghalenoei and Sepahan have played 20 consecutive Premier League games without a loss. If they win the next two games, they will have a new record.

Team Melli under Ghalenoei in AFC Asian Cup 2007

Additionally, with Sepahan, Zob Ahan, Esteghlal, and TractorSazi, Ghalenoei has also been vice-Champion.

Amir Ghalenoei also managed Team Melli most notably during the AFC Asian Cup 2007. His statements before and after games are always controversial. He is not by any means unique in his rhetoric as almost all the Iranian coaches have this Blame Culture, feeling of being prosecuted, conspired against, treated unfairly and most famous of all of them, “the referee was against us” mentality. Ghalenoei has been sent off to the stands, sanctioned and disciplined many times in his career for his misdemeanors; however, he remains unique in one important aspect. He is technically one of the most acute and advance coaches that Iran has ever seen.  If there was an Iranian coach that can easily coach at the highest level in Asia (language barrier permitting) it is Amir Ghalenoei. This man is head and shoulder above the rest.

 

It is a great pity that his chances of coaching Team Melli are not great as he admits himself, he has far too many adversaries domestically. The FFIRI and Taj will not be able to deal with the outspoken Ghalenoei. The loser, however, is Team Melli and the national football at large.

Inspector General to act on claims of financial irregularities.

Following public outcry about a series of bungles contracts between the football federations and clubs with foreign coaches,  resulting in payouts of millions of dollars of hard currency to the coaches for pre-mature end of the contract, the Inspector General of the Islamic Republic finds itself forced to act.

Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the Judiciary spokesman told a news conference on Tuesday, "it is the duty of the Inspector-General of the country to audit and investigate financial irregularities by football associations and clubs. "

 Responding to a reporter's question in relation to  Ali Fathollazadeh and whether it is true that there is outstanding litigation against him in the courts. Fathollahzadeh a former chairman of Esteghlal, who is rumored to be the lead candidate for his old job, was removed from his post under suspicious circumstances. Mr. Esmaeili denied any knowledge of such information.

Asked whether it is true that a government-owned Petrochemical company has allegedly paid the expenses of  Esteghlal's recruitment of a foreign head coach, he said: "I have nothing to do with the club affairs including contract negotiations or details, but I would like to explain where our authority rests. Football is one of the most popular sports among the Iranian youth. As such, It demands that those running the affairs of clubs and federation, in their capacity as administrators and managers, they must take measures to protect the interest of the fans, finances, expenditures, be accountable for their decisions and activities in such a way that, first, they do not waste public money and second, they do not fail, mislead and deceive the younger generation by their ill-action or poor control"

"We expect the football leadership to act professionally and competently when negotiating and signing a contract and ensure termination clauses do not translate in heavy losses."

The judiciary spokesman emphasized that any misappropriation of the public funds will be investigated by the Inspector General Office, with the guilty parties put for trials,

Roozbeh Cheshmi wanted by Trabzonspor.

Trabzonspor has managed only 2 clean sheets this season. In this context, the club continued to work for an Iranian defender, such as Majid Hosseini to add to the team’s defensive strength.

The popular Turkish newspaper  Hurriyet reported in today's edition on Trabzonspor's plan to recruit another Esteghlal player.

Trabzonspor, currently ranked 3rd in the league, whose ambition is to be top club and league leader is already seeking in their transfer agenda some defensive enforcement. This season, with 14 league match played, only 2 matches ended in a clean sheet with the team conceding in the rest of the 12.

The Bordeaux-blues are now interested in Roozbeh Cheshmi , who continues his career in Esteghlal. Iranian National Team's 26-year-old player would possibly replace or partner Majid Hosseini whose club's contract expires at the end of the season.

Scouts of the Black Sea representative followed Esteghlal's match with Shahin yesterday. Bordeaux-blue executives will soon sit at the table with Cheshmi the club announced.

Hosseini's positive reference and recommendations for the successful stopper, the Black Sea team representative will propose a small transfer figure. Iranian team Esteghlal is expected to accept this proposal as the conclusion of the contract will be at the end of the season.

The Turkish club also had Vahid Amiri on their roster for 1 season.

Omid Team training is at full throttle.

Omid team is actively preparing for the crucial AFC U23 Championship 2020  by conducting constant practice sessions under the direction of Hamid Estili.

Today's (Sunday) session which started at 9:30, Hamid Estili briefed the players on the objectives and details of today's practice session. Then Mohammad Sharifi, Sina Zamiran and Mohammed Mohebbi left the group to conduct the fitness tests which all other players went undertook.

The training of the rest of the squad started with all members of the technical staff supervising the proceedings and giving the required tactical and technical advice.

This session which was carried out in the National Football Training Center included a light physical program. The next practice is scheduled for tonight at 9 pm.

Meanwhile, Omid Noorafkan and Mohammad Mohebbi (Sepahan) Reza Shekari and Mohammad Reza Azadi (Tractorsazi) Aref Aghasi and Mojtaba Najarian (Foolad Khuzestan) Ali Shojaei and Reza Dehghani (Nasiji Mazandaran) Ali Shahsavari and Mohammad KhodabandehLo (Peykan) and Sina Zamehran (Shar Khodro ) have joined the squad after their respective teams released them to Omid team.

Mohammad Mehdi Khani who plays for the Croatian side  NK Varaždin will also join the Omid (Olympic) squad on Monday.

"The initial list of Olympic team players, including 50 players, according to the AFC's regulations. " Hamid Estili said on the eve of the training camp's inauguration. "After shortlisting the number to 30, the squad departs to  Qatar, where we will have an 8-day training camp and two friendly matches in Doha."

"After returning to Tehran, we will announce the list of the final 23 players which form the Omid Team that will be competing in the AFC Asian Championship also the Olympic qualifiers scheduled to be held in Thailand. In some of the posts, we are still looking for the final option, such as the right-back, which was vacated due to the injury to  Aghajanpour and we are reviewing the names of 1 or 2 options to decide the final squad," Estili added.

The coach of the Omid team once again called on the clubs to cooperate and assist with the team by saying: "Our plan during these 18 months of engagement was comprehensive. We tried to invite players for training or matches in FIFA days. We were aware of their special circumstances and situation, but at this juncture we expect the clubs to understand our situation too. Invited players will return to the clubs before the 16th week but after the end of the week it is necessary for the clubs to abandon their squads and allow our training to start. There are legal measures we can refer to, of course, but there should not be such issues among colleagues, and we need to all work in a friendly manner. I am sure my good colleagues at the clubs are on the side of the Omid team, preferring the national interest to everything else and helping us at this point."

AFC Futsal Championship Turkmenistan 2020 draw.

Ashgabat: The path to Asian futsal glory has become clearer for the Continent’s top 16 teams after the AFC Futsal Championship Turkmenistan 2020 official draw was conducted at Ashgabat’s Olympia Hotel on Friday.

The ceremony separated the 16 qualified teams into four groups ahead of next year’s competition, where the best in Asian futsal will compete for the title of Continental champions.

Host nation Turkmenistan will begin the competition with what is sure to be a hotly anticipated clash against tournament debutants Oman on February 26, before rounding their Group A commitments with matches against Tajikistan and Vietnam. The final will be played on March 8.

The defending champions Iran were drawn in Group D alongside Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asian champions Thailand.

Newly crowned AFC Futsal Player of the Year Tomoki Yoshikawa will lead Japan in an intriguing Group B, which also includes Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic and Kuwait, while four-time runners-up Uzbekistan will begin their campaign against Indonesia after both sides were drawn in Group C, which also contains Bahrain and China PR.

The AFC Futsal Championship is Asia’s flagship international futsal competition, also serving as the final stage of FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifying, with the top five sides in Turkmenistan to represent the Continent at Lithuania 2020.

With 12 titles in the 15 previous editions of the competition, Iran is the most successful side in AFC Futsal Championship history, with three-time champions Japan the only other nation to have lifted the trophy.

The Futsal Team Melli will have to battle it out with Thailand for the lead in the group. Winners and runners up will then meet the Group C two top teams in the quarter-finals.

,

Match Schedule

27th February 2020 Iran Saudi Arabia Main Indoor Arena, Ashgabat.
29th February 2020 Korea Rep. Iran Main Indoor Arena, Ashgabat.
02nd March 2020 Iran Thailand Martial Arts Arena, Ashgabat.

Group A: Turkmenistan (host), Vietnam, Tajikistan, Oman

Group B: Japan, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait

Group C: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, China .Indonesia

Group D: Iran, Thailand, Korea Rep. , Saudi Arabia

Wilmots terminated his contract before the Iraq game!

In a series of bizarre justifications and rhetorics, the head of the Iranian Football Federation says Wilmots had terminated his contract before the game against Iraq!

Mehdi Taj spoke about the recent developments of Team Melli and Wilmots in a radio programme today noon (Friday).“after the World Cup and the Asian Cup, 2019 many believed that the next coach should be young and experienced and must be foreign nationals. The federation first spoke to Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui, who turned down the offer due to the ill health of his father suffering from cancer. After that, we shifted our attention to Hervé Renard  (Morocco's World Cup coach), but he said he could only accept the offer to coach Iran from June however we needed a coach from the March at least. Finally, we negotiated with Marc Wilmots, who was young enough (50 years old) and had experienced four World Cup as player and coach. He was an asset to the Belgian national team and was a very good choice for Team Melli, and everyone had confirmed him!” Mehdi Taj continued.

"When Wilmots came to Iran, we signed a good deal with him, but we insisted that the amount of the contract should remain confidential and not be transparent (…). It was also stated in a clause that any party unilaterally terminates the contract, will pay damages to the other an amount equivalent to three months wages."

“It is has been mentioned in various media outlets that the contract with Wilmots and his assistants is valued up to € 5 million, which is untrue and those who have claimes that are liars. In my opinion, the Majlis member who publicized this figure should not talk about these issues and he should think about solving people problem.”

"We signed a contract that included everything, and before we presented it to Wilmots, we consulted three international legal experts, one of whom is a member of the FIFA Appeals Committee," said the head of the Iran Football Federation. "The figure of Wilmot's contract is reasonable for anyone who knows Belgian football. It is not right when the lawmaker says this trainer isn't worth $ 500,000. There are many foreign and domestic coaches in our league who earn more than  $ 500,000.”

"When we signed the contract on May 22, one of the clauses referred to the subject of outrageous US sanctions and that may affect the way we pay our salaries, which led Wilmots to request two days for consultation," Taj added. "The contract stipulates that if the coach does not receive his entitlements for 2 to 3 months, he can terminate unilaterally. Mark Wilmots terminated his contract before the match against Iraq.

“In the meantime, we have sent several letters to FIFA to pay Wilmots' money out of their budget, but due to the new sanctions, they have not been able to find a bank, and Wilmots has stated that the federation has no will to pay him. However, we paid 7 days later. Taj added: "At the last meeting, he wanted us to guarantee that payments would not be delayed, but I told him that we should discuss more urgent clauses in view of the termination of his contract before playing with Iraq."

Iran comes out of AFC Annual Awards empty handed

The Asian Football PConfederation Annual Award ceremony was held without any achievement for Iranian football as the Iranian representatives returned home empty-handed.

The top Asian football awards event was held in Hong Kong yesterday (Monday) and various prizes were awarded to top players. Various countries, including Japan and East Asia in general, which have been leading the West for many years, have won numerous awards, but the most prestigious award  (Asian Player of the Year) was given to the Al Sadd and National Qatari Team player, Akram Afif.

Al-Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez received the award on behalf of Afif who is involved in the Gulf Cup football tournament currently held in Doha, Qatar.

Although Iran had candidates in five different categories, the Iranians failed to win any awards. Alireza Biranvand (Asian Footballer of the Year nominee), Sardar Azmoun (Asian Legionnaire of the Year), Mehdi Javid (Asian Footballer of the Year), Katayoun Khosrowyar (Asian Football Coach of the Year) and the Iranian Football Federation (Best Inspirational Federation) were Iran's representatives. The day before the ceremony, however, Mehdi Taj and the director of the Ministry of Sport's Information Center had revealed that Beiranvand has not won the award! Despite Iran's lack of success and absence from the honours awards, an Iranian, Alireza Faghani, currently working and residing in Australia, was selected as Asia's best referee in 2019. The fact is that award was the result of his individual genius and talent, rather than a proper system and mechanism of producing quality referees like himself (Faghani).

According to the famous French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry,

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

Recent national teams and club football failures such as World Cup qualifying defeats against Bahrain and Iraq, failure of Iranian clubs in AFC Champions League teams, Futsal Club failure, loss of AFC top rankings, not to mention various other failures at age-group football and so on were another stern reminder of lack a predetermined programming, quality, planning and long term systematic strategy in Iran.

The achievement of the existing system, or lack of it to be precise, and the poor mechanism has resulted in the failure to win the men's and women's titles of the year, as well as the Asian men's and women's coach of the year, which is highly regarded in Asian football but Iran has not won the title for many years. Although Alireza Biranvand is one of Asia's top male candidates and Katayoun Khosraviar is one of Asia's top female candidates and Alireza Faghani's selection as Asia's best referee is a delight and Iranian football is proud of the presence of such figures, their success is due to their innate talent, individual brilliance, rather than being products of a  Collaborative attitude and system. Their personal efforts are hardly derived from the organized, progressive and systematic football regime.

Alongside the growth and promotion of East Asian football, the Qataris have shown by their impressive achievements in the individual and team sectors that success is not just a matter of genius and talent, but the planning and existence of competent and capable managers who can lead to the achievement of plans and goals. Iran football managers are found wanting in this department and have failed time and again to meet the expectations of the passionate fans.

Recent events and successive failures are another important warnings for Iranian football, proving that the successive qualification for the  FIFA World Cup twice in a row, the AFC Champions League final appearance by Persepolis in 2018, and even the winning AFC footballer of the year in 2004 were all the  outcomes and efforts of talented coaches and footballers, and has nothing to do with management systems or development efforts of Iranian managers or the Ministry of Sports.

It is no secret that besides Iran's weak Asian football lobby for prizes, the current dilemma is the incompetence of sheer lack of skills by the executives of the football federation incapable of properly executing programs that were practically implemented in countries that are way behind Iran's capabilities and riches.  Other countries, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, became West Asia's flagship solo and team achievements.

With the present incompetent football management at the three most important levels (Clubs, Football federation and the Ministry of Sports) any success will be in isolation, any award-winning will be individual brilliance, any titles will be miracles of those poor passionate Iranian fans that have waited for over 4 decades.

The present Iranian football system will NOT produce winners and champions. However, the bleakest of the news is the fact that there is no prospect in sight of a White Knight on horseback who can save Iran's football. There are plenty of critics armed with rhetorics, but no strong leader to take control of the situation and develop it like a real professional.