Budapest.
Daniel “Dan” Gaspar “Iranian goalkeeprs cannot win a place in the starting line up by using the media”
On the eve of the friendly match with Tunisia , Daniel Gasper , the Portuguese American goalkeeping Coach of Team Melli, commented on the week long training camp that was set up in Hungary. Gasper stated his satisfaction with the facilities provided and the resources available. He also declared that this was a very timely training camp which gave the technical crew a good opportunity to work with the players, specially the new faces, after a longish break since the last match against Qatar. The camp was quite productive.
Gapser praised the work ethics of the players and said that all of them showed a lot of enthusiasm and energy which was quite pleasing for the coaching team. Asked whether new goalkeepers will be added to the squad , Gasper said that there will never be anything called a permanent position in the team. We always look for new talents and capable players. At the moment I have two new goalkeepers that I will work with and hope that they reached a high standard to enable them to be competent keepers for the near future. These two are Mohsen Forouzan and Hamed Lak. They are both young and very talented. We are keeping very close eyes on them and I believe that the pair of them will excel”
“Goalkeepers need to show their worth to the coaching team of Team Melli , by being impressive and working hard. They need to focus their energy on the practice session and subsequently during matches in order to attract attention. Goalkeepers cannot win a place in the team or be selected by talking to the press . It is their good work on the pitch that distinguishes them and forces the coach to select them , not by talking or marketing themselves”
Gapser then went on to comment on Alireza Haghighi” Alireza is a very good goalkeeper and an excellent prospect. He currently plays in the Russian league which we must admit is of a higher standard than Iran’s league. He is the second choice goalkeeper in Rubin Kazan and he will have a very tough time replacing the first choice , who is a very popular Russian keeper. But with determination and persistence, Alireza is certainly capable. I believe he has the abilities and skills to be a first rate goalkeeper, in fact, I believe in him. He just needs to stay focused and continue working hard.”
Gapser is the long-time assistant and consultant to Carlos Queiroz with whom he co-authored Project 2010 for the USSF in 1998, with the goal to create a blueprint for long-term improvements in US soccer. He is living away from his family but hope that they could join him in Tehran after the New Year. He said that he is quite happy living in Iran after he settled in his own flat.
Gasper says he spends his spare time learning cooking , and in fact he has competition with Carlos Queiroz on who is the better cock. Gasper said he normally wins that competition, but a man in the caliber of Queiroz will soon beat him if he puts his mind on it.