Iran’s U17 youth team was held by North Korea U17 1-1 in the 4th Weifang Hope Cup . The annual International Youth Football Tournament which saw Iran’s first participation is held in Weifang city, Shandong Province, China.

The young Iranian players , played a good first half and managed to threaten the Korean keeper , but the finishing was far from ideal. The first half ended with a stalemate without a goal.

In the second half , Iran was the stronger and the more forceful side with several attacks , but it was North Korea who scored in a classic counter attack move to take the lead. After that goal in the 55th minute, the Koreans were intent with sitting back in a defensive shell. The solid defending worked well for the Koreans right near the end of the game , but Iran’s Babak Abdullahzadeh spoiled the Korean plans when he scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute. There were further scoring opportunities for the young Iranians but none was scored as the match ended in a tie 1-1

Team Melli U17 will face U17  team of Sao Paolo club (Brazil) on Monday 29th at 12:30 Tehran time.

 

 

Mehdi Taj , the Iranian football League commissioner , said that Team Melli’c coach proposals to modify the league program were not practical and illogical.  Taj was reacting to the recent sharp criticism of the league program by Carlos Queiroz, in which he said that the league competetion as planned will create difficulties for Team Melli’s preparations towards the World Cup.

In reference to one of the proposals by Queiroz , Mehdi Taj said “How can we run a league program without Team Melli players? On what basis we can face the clubs and tell them that they have to compete in the league without their best players? No club will agree to that , and as the administrators of the league program, we have to cater for the interest of every side including clubs, fans and players , we would not entertain such proposal.”

On the other proposal of Queiroz regarding the Hazfi Cup, the knock out cup competition, Taj again refused to accept the idea to run a longish program for cup competition after the completion of the regular season and the league program. “This will amount to adding an extra season right after finishing one. This proposal is simply not feasible.” Taj responded.

Carlos Queiroz, announced a comprehensive program to prepare Team Melli for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

 

1. 7th – 14th Aug.               Training Camp Portugal including one friendly match

2. 31st Aug to 10th Sep.         Two friendly matches

3. 6th to 15th Oct               One friendly match and one Asian Cup Qualifier match

4. 9th to 19th Nov               Two Asian Cup Qualifier matches

5. 27th Feb to 5th Mar           Asian Cup Qualifier match

6. 12th Apr to 6th May           3 or 4 friendly matches

7. 12th to 31 May               3 or 4 friendly matches

8. 1st to 12th Jun               One friendly Match

The world cup will start on the 12^th June.  Normally , the qualified teams fly to the destination well ahead of the start , so most probably the last item of the published training program will be conducted somewhere in Brazil. The first item of this plan has already been cancelled due to lack of funds. Apparently , Team Melli was planned to play against Ghana National team on the 14th of August, which is a FIFA day. The Ghanian team were supposed to fly to Lisbon for the match but the cancellation of the training camp resulted in cancellation of the friendly match with Ghana.

 

The Footfall Federation has announced that the planned Team Melli camp which was supposed to be held in Portugal has been cancelled due to lack of funds!

Although there was great enthusiasm, massive street celebrations,  public and official support for Team Melli in the aftermath of the success  in qualification for 2014 FIFA world Cup finals in Brazil, the reality stuck hard at the first step as Team Melli faced its first major blow.

The Football Federation which has been cash strapped for at least two years now and been living on government handouts have finally decided that it can no longer act and go beyond its mean. While it is running out of money, it could not pay for the expenses that are associated with a training camp in a European country. For years, the Football Federation (FFIRI)  has been dependent on government contribution and aids to run its business. A government which has been hardly benevolent, especially considering the hardship it faces with its currency devaluation against the US$ and the continuous embargo that hit the economy hard.   The Federation has no concrete program to generate revenue and since one major revenue is TV ( a cartel of TV stations controlled under one organization umbrella)  the IRIB which is the monopolizing TV broadcasts ,  has refused to pay proper TV right broadcast fees. The fact that Carlos Queiroz and his coaching team is getting paid, is a mystery under the current circumstances.

In a nutshell, the first major blow has been struck in the path of a proper representation of Iran in the next World Cup. Lack of funds, lack of support and the failure of FFIRI to create an independent entity, both financially and  functionally will be felt quite hard on Team Melli preparation.

The only positive from this fiasco is that it has occurred early and less than a year before the actual FIFA competition. Perhaps it will be a warning siren for the administrators, minsters and the hierarchy in the Islamic Republic to realize the problems and act accordingly if there is any real intent to help the team.

 

On the other hand, Carlos Queiroz was not surprisingly quite livid about the whole fiasco and targeted the League Commission for his wrath. Queiroz claimed that he had agreed with the league commission on a set plan including the actual date for start of the league matches and end dates to ensure compliance with his program to prepare Team Melli for the World Cup finals. However, a few days later with several clubs lobbying , the program changes again detrimental to his plan!   Queiroz gave several examples and instances of how this disharmony can affect his team, while giving an interview to several local news agencies reporters.

Queiroz denied any thoughts that he is looking after his own personal interest and also denied that he is not really considering the interest of the league clubs. Team Melli programs last years caused quite a number of lengthy stoppage of the league program, which resulted in almost all the clubs coaches protesting and accusation being exchanged.  Queiroz said that he appreciated the situation of the clubs and understands that the strength of Team Melli comes from the clubs. He also sympathized with Esteghlal’s mission in AFC Champions league which he referred to as “Micky Mouse” League but defended his own program by saying that the players will not be at their clubs for only a few days each months, which at certain moths they are completely free to be at the club disposal.   This response was to those who accused Querioz of undermining the league program. Some club managers and coaches think Queiroz program for  30 odd players should not overwhelm and dominate the fortune of hundreds of others  league players in the clubs, many of them foreigners who are paid in hard currency costing the already financially troubled clubs more stress.

Between a federation which is strapped out of cash but hardly makes its balance sheet public (no accountability or transparency) and a coach who is on the defensive against much criticism from others whose interests are threatened by what looks like a single man domination of Iranian football, Team Melli will definitely be the biggest loser. Unless some cool heads and thrifty sources start addressing the problems from now.  Failure to do so or procrastinating on compulsory actions will put Team Melli World Cup preparation programs under threat.

Although it has not been specifically mentioned, it seems that Team Melli will lose the FIFA day on 14^th of August which Iran was supposed to play either Benfica club or National Team of Gabon, take your pick. Like many things in Iranian football, it was not certain which side was supposed to play Team Melli in the Portuguese training camp!

 

After the league opening match of Perspolis  against Tractrorsazi ,  the Chief Executive Mohammad Rouyanian boasted about how his club has not paid four of his Team Melli players a penny since the beginning of the season’s preparation two months ago! In an post match interview , Rouyanian  mentioned that Jalal Hosseini , Hossein Mahini , Gholamreza Rezaei and Mohammad Khanzadeh , the four Team Melli players of Perspolis, in addition to Mehrdad Kafshgari , Amir Abedzadeh and Omid Alishah have not received anything from the club. Rouyanian expressed his admiration for those players for not demanding their wages!

The chief executive of the club claimed that the delay of payment to these players was due to the uncertainty surrounding the managerial posts of Perspolis in the last few months including the move to oust him from his position and the possibility of his departure from the club. “Luckily for all, I have maintained my position and we managed to gather a solid squad for the season in the process.” Rouyanian  said. However , he did not mention that since he has secured his own job, when are these players going to get paid and why should his appointment or not be related to player’s wages that should be respected regardless to who is his holding a position in the club?

Overdue payment, sometimes for months, is a regular and common occurrence in Iranian clubs, especially Perspolis and Esteghlal.  Many players have complained about clubs not respecting the terms of the contracts and delayed and sometime non payments. Some players dared to air their grievances publicly to the dislike of the club managers.

On a TV show this Friday morning, Ali Kaffashian has urged the government to support Iran’s bid for hosting the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. The head of the football federation stated that Iran has only a few days to finalize its proposal with documentations and submit the bid to the Asian Football Confederation  headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Kaffashian emphasized the importance of government support in winning the rights to host the Asian Football premier event. He said that in other countries, even the Country’s head of state gets involved in order to support such a bid.

In the TV interview, Kaffashian said “When we approach the government official about ideas of hosting important event, we always get their encouragement and approvals. But when it is time for them to take action and give support or official signature on the documents for approvals, they disappear! One important factor about sport and football development is hosting of big events. Any country that has ambition and aspiration to be a powerful nation in football, plan on hosting tournaments and excel in doing that. Four years ago, there were two candidates to host the FIFA Futsal World Cup, Iran and Thailand. It was a great opportunity for Iran and we did our utmost to get the approval of all concerned government organizations and other authorities, but we only managed half the signatures required. We lost to Thailand. The decision for selecting the host nation of 2019 AFC Asian Cup  will be taken in 2 ½ from now.”

Kaffashian was bemoaning the lack of support and difficulty in getting signatures. He said “ Although from our previous experience , we realize that getting the signatures from the concerned government authorities and ministries is a difficult and time intensive task, we will simply not give up and continue our efforts to win this important hosting. We only have a few days left, 4 or 5 to be precise. Since we will have a new elected President and a new government, we asked the secretary General of the AFC to extend the final day of submission for a few more days in order to get the right approvals. We are awaiting their response. ”

About the infrastructure for hosting the Asian Cup, Kaffashian commented that “ If we want to host the Asian Cup we must ensure that we suitably prepare the four cities, Tehran , Esfahan , Tabriz and Mashad and upgrade the facilities to the required international standards.”

the 13th Persian Gulf Cup league will start tonight , with an eagerly anticipated clash of giants between Tractorsazi of Tabriz and Perspolis of Tehran.

Most of the Team Melli players will be in action for their teams in the next couple of days , with the rest of the first round program being played on Thursday.  It will be the first home apperance for Team Melli players since their qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup , where they beating Qatar , Lebanon and Korea Rep to clinch the lead of the group and qualify directly to Brazil.

Many Team Melli players have changed clubs while renewed rivalries will ignite the interest in the league from fans perspectives. Loyal team players , are no more a commodity in Iran. Tonight’s clash in Azadi stadium will be an interesting confrontation between Perspolis and trio of its former star players in Ali Karimi , Karim Ansarifard and Javad Kazemian.  While there was talk of revenge and settlement of accounts, Ali Karimi issued a messages of peace to Perspolis fans to calm the situation in the stands. Karimi was one of the most popular Perspolis players who pledged to play for his beloved club until he hangs his boots, however, at the end of the last season , Karimi abruptly retired for football after his team lost to Sepahan in the final of the Hazfi cup. Some weeks later, Karimi changed his mind on retirement , but Perspolis was unwilling to accept him. For the loyal red fans , seeing Karimi in another team’s jersey is hard to swallow. Perspolis is coached by Ali Daei who himself is a former player for the reds of Tehran , while Tractorsazi who have qualified for the next season AFC Asian Champions league , is coached by Majeed Jalali.

Javad Nekounam who had a turbulent relation with Estghlal and finally decided against leaving might not be available for the first match of his team. Ando Teymourian also might have difficulties due to the issue of ITC.

The formalities surrounding the arrival of Alireza Jahanbakhsh are finally completed. The Iranian youth player was on the first available flight out of Tehran to the Netherlands’s  on Sunday 21st July. Jahanbakhsh started his first training session on Monday after his induction in the NEC squad.

Technical director Carlos Aalbers said  “The people of the Dutch embassy in Tehran, in recent days,  have been very helpful in the completion of the procedures and issuing the proper documentation.  While waiting for the visa issue formalities, Alireza has been maintain his physical condition by training in Iran, nevertheless he will still just need time to acclimatize. ”

 

Alireza Jahanbakhsh, whose transfer was delayed as he had to wait a few weeks on his papers.  Stated after completing his first session with NEC  “I’m glad I’m finally here. It was not so much the authorities in Iran for the issue of exit permit , it took long time by the Dutch authorities.”

Jahanbakhsh joined the squad already in full training for the new season. The Iranian thus has to do with a slight lag training. “I realize that I now have a training backlog, but I will do my utmost to make sure I’m ready for the first league match. Of course, it is up to the coach to decide whether I am ready to play. ”

The Iranian commented about the interest in his progress from his own country. “They’re going to follow me in Iran in all possible manners. Everything I do at NEC, they want to see.” Jahanbakhsh talked to the press in English, something he has practiced for long. “I have worked intensively. I currently have two goals: I want to learn English and be very good football.”

The 19 years old ex-Damash Gilan player is considered as one of the upcoming future stars of Iran’s football. His brilliant performance in the last AFC U19 Asian Cup held in the UAE was eye catching and attracted the interest of the Dutch club.

Mehdi Mahdavikia , the former star of Iran’s Team Melli was highly critical of the testimonial match and the accompanied ceremony that was arranged in honor of Team Melli players by the Football Federation last Saturday night..

In an interview with Iran Varzeshi newspaper, Mahdavikia who has hanged his boot with Perspolis at the end of last season, said he was absent out of Iran but even if he was , he would not have participated in any form in this debacle.   Mahdavikia said “the whole function and the arrangement prior to it was a disaster. It was poorly and hastily arranged by the federation. “

“Such proposed match between the 1998 team that brought honor and glory to the nation and the current 2013 team that has also qualified to Brazil World Cup , should not have been on at the first place. How can you expect a competition between a bunch of old players who have retired for a long period, some who are coaching and others who have left football all together , playing against a current team that has qualified for the World Cup? ” Mahdavikia added.

“This is an insult to the 1998 team. The match was unfair and ridiculously unbalanced and it made a mockery of the senior players who were supposed to be honored. Thanks to the federation confused and irrational arrangement Instead of honoring Team Melli of 1998, it turned them into a laughing stock!” lamented Mahdavikia who scored Iran’s second goal against USA in Lyon in the 2-1 historic win.

“The poor planning was obvious. The federation should have planned this program month in advance and clearly defining the objectives and contents of this event to the public.  This would have attracted the interest of many spectators and Team Melli fans.  Early planning would have given the chance for many participants to arrange their schedule accordingly. “Mahdavikia added

I would have not played in that match even if I was in Iran

“I already had plans to be in Germany but I would have not played in that match even if I was in Iran. It does not take a genius to predict the outcome of such unfair and unbalanced competition. The five goals, with mercy , in the first half was just the icing on the cake to humiliate the players who were supposed to be honored. The intent of the federation was noble and honorable but the execution was poor and the match idea was absurd.”

Mehdi Mahdavikia was in Germany for talks with SV Hamburg , the club that Iran’s former midfielder has played for a period spanning 8 years. Discussion about a testimonial match, German style, has been going on between the two parties.

Iran’s U17 youth team will be taking part in the 4th China Weifang Hope Cup . The annual International Youth Football Tournament will be held in Weifang city, Shandong Province, China.

Team Melli U17 is grouped with North Korea U17 , Sao Paolo (Brazil) and Chivas (USA).

 

The match schedule is a s follows:

Sunday 28th July 2013            Iran U17 vs North Korea U17 

Monday, 29th July 2013          Iran U17 vs Sao Paolo U17

Wednesday , 31st July 2013   IranU17 vs. Chivas U17

(All time are Iran Summer Time)

 

The tournament is played in 3 groups. the Others group includes, Botafago (Brazil) , Shandong (China), Myanmar U17  and China U17 team , while the third group consists of Porto (Portugal), Laling FC (China). Mongolia U17,and HK Rangers (Hong Kong).

The top three teams plus the best second placed team will qualify for the semi finals of the tournament.

 

In a statement to the official FFIRI website, Ali Doustimeher, the coach of Youth teams said that the U17 team will be flying to China on Thursday for the tournament. ” The team will be coached the newly formed coaching team headed by the experienced youth level coach, Rahim Meerakhoury. The purpose of this tournament is to gain experience at international level and top class opposition. Results are irrelevant at this stage.” Doustimeher added. will