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.

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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.

 

 

 

Jafar Namdar passes away

Ex- Team Melli player and Iran’s first referee to officiate in two world cups, Jafar Namdar has passed away  in the United States.

Namdar was a successful football player who played for Shahin and Team Melli in the early sixties. He was in the first ever Iranian squad to make a major championship in the 1964 Olympics Games in Tokyo.

After retiring from playing football , he became a referee. He went on to become one of the most renowned referees in Iranian football. Namdar officiated as a referee at the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups.

Namdar refereed the match between Australia & Chile at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, becoming the second Asian referee

to officiate as a referee at a FIFA World Cup. In that match Namdar created controversy by showing three yellow cards to Australian player Ray Richards before showing a red card after being informed of his error by reserve official the Welshman , Clive Thomas. He officiated as an assistant referee for the third place playoff between Brazil and Poland.

He was Chief of the Iranian Referees Committee from 1970 until 1978.Namdar died on 1 January 2014 at the age of 79. At the time , he was living in the USA

Jafar Namdar (2 July 1934 – 1 January 2014)

God bless his soul

Team Melli U-22 Squad finalized

FFIRI announced the final list of 23 players forming Iran’s squad to the AFC Asian U-22 Cup to be held in Muscat, Oman.

Team Melli U-22 is in Group C with Japan , Australia and Kuwait.

After the return of the team from Kish Island training camp and following playing a friendly match against South Korea, Alireza Mansourian, the team’s head coach , announced his resignation while the first choice replacement Human Afazeli has finally responded positively to his appointment after agreeing terms with the football federation. Afazeli pleaded with all concerned to support the team .

The announced list is missing a few significant players , like Payam Sadeghian , Mohsen Mosalman , Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhash. These players were not released by their clubs. However, the positive that emerged is that the core of this squad have already been playing together at different age levels teams for Iran/

The matches schedule

2-Jan-14 19:00 C Japan Iran Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat
14-Jan-14 19:00 C Iran Australia Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat
16-Jan-14 16:30 C Iran Kuwait Seeb Stadium, Seeb

 

The Squad

  Player Club
1 Afshin ESMAELZADEH Birama (POR)
2 Ahmad ZENDEROH Mes Kerman
3 Alireza BIRAVAND Naft Tehran
4 Amin JAHAN-ALIAN Sepahan Esfahan
5 Amir ABEDZADEH  Perspolis
6 Amir Arsalan Mottahari Moghavamat Tehran
7 Ammar NIK-KAR Parseh Tehran
8 Behnam BARAZAI Rah Ahan
9 Ehsan PAHLAVAN Sepahan Esfahan
10 Fardin ABEDINI Gostarish Tabriz
11 Farzin KAROUSIAN Mes Songon
12 Kaveh REZAEI Saipa
13 Masoud RIKI Fajr Sepasi
14 Mehdi SHIRI Malavan Anzali
15 Mehdi TARMI Iranjavan Bushehr
16 Mohammad Amin HAJ-MOHAMMADY Naft Tehran
17 Mohammadreza KHANZADEH Zob Ahan
18 MohammadVahid ESMAEILBEIGI Mes Kerman
19 Morteza POURALIGANCHI Naft Tehran
20 Navid KHOSH-HAVA Tractorsazi Tabriz
21 Peyman MEERI Parseh Tehran
22 Shahab KARAMI Foolad Khuzestan
23 Shahriyar SHIRVAND Tractorsazi Tabriz

U-22 coach Mansourian resigns, Afazeli to take over.

Alireza Mansourian has resigned as the coach of Team Melli U-22, days before the start of the AFC Asian U-22 Cup.

Human Afazeli will take over from Mansourian , according to FFIRI officials, although Afazeli has said that a deal has not been set as he needs to discuss terms with the football federation.

Mansourian , who had a long meeting with the federation officials on Tuesday , emerged from the meeting announcing his resignation because of the difficulties he has recently faced in his job. The main reason as quoted by the ex-Esteghlal midfielder was the reluctance of club coaches in releasing players for the U-22 camp or friendly games. “Under such conditions, I don’t see myself continuing coaching the team “ Mansourian was quoted

It is also believed that Mansourian was not very happy about the disclosure of the news that the Portuguese coach Vingada is on the brink of signing a 3 years contract to coach the Olympic team. That move by FFIRI was seen as a stabbing in the back by Mansourian who always thought that he is in charge of the Olympic or U-23 team despite the non-existence of an official contract.

Human Afazeli has acted as the coach for the Olympic team on emergency basis before. The last time Afazeli was in charge, he relinquished the task to Mansourian during the qualification rounds for the London Olympics.

Afazeli is an experienced  young coach who has worked with several top coaches in Iran , including Branko Ivankovic. Afazeli was also the assistant coach of Team Melli during Daei’s era.

 

Sadeghian stars in Team Melli U22 win

Kish island , Persian Gulf

Team Melli U-22 scored a narrow win in a friendly match against South Korea in the warmth of the Persian Gulf Island of Kish this afternoon.

The friendly match was in preparation of both team for the upcoming AFC U-22 Cup which will be held in Oman in a fortnight.

The Iranians had a lightening start when they opened the scoring as early as the 7th minute through Yaghoub Karimi who  slotted the ball home to make it 1-0 for Iran. Two minutes later the Koreans were stunned when Payam Sadeghian made it 2-0 for  Alireza Mansourian’s men.

The two quick goals by Team Melli U-22 forced the Koreans to raise their game and go on to overdrive which yielded result when Lee JongHo scored for the Korean team and reduce the deficit to the minimum. 2-1 was indeed the result that the teams carried to the dressing room at half time.

In the second half, the Koreans started as the better team and played some neat football and eventually managed to score the equalizer. Lee Jong Ho scored his second and his teams second at 74th minute.

While both teams seemed to be content with the result , Sadeghian pounced on a ball and scored Iran’s winner right on the 90th minute.The match ended 3-2 for the hosts.

 The scorers Karimi , Sepahan midfielder , and Sadeghian of Perspolis are 2 of a few number of players in the U-22 squad who have been selected or played for the senior team Melli.

The two teams are supposed to meet again on Friday , but there is already some talk about postponing the match to some other time.

Iran is in a difficult group with Japan . Australia and Kuwait in the inaugural championship in Muscat Oman.

Vingada on the brink of becoming Team Melli U-23 coach

Nelo Vingada , the 60 years old Portuguese coach is at the brink of signing a 3 years contract to coach Iran’s U-23 team.

The much traveled coach who had a short stint as Perspolis head coach in 2009 , has been negotiating with the FFIRI for months and it is reported that both sides have agreed terms and the signing will be conduct after the return of Ali Kaffashian from Iraq.

Currently , there is no coach for the U-23 team or Olympic team , however , with the 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 in mind next September , followed by the Rio Olympic Games 2016 qualifiers, FFIRI opted to have a long term plan for the U-23/Olympic team. The appointment of a high profile coach was deemed as a priority.

The selection of Vingada was no doubt influenced by Carlos Queiroz , a close friend and associate. The pair (Queiroz and Vingada) led Portugal to lifting the FIFA U21 World Cup back in 1989 & 1991. Vingada’s last involvement with Iranian football was his advisory role to Queiroz during this current World Cup campaign [Full story]

The selection of the experienced Vingada will at least mean harmony between the two coaches of Team Melli, as Queiroz has not been having a cordial relationship with other club coaches in Iran.  Club coaches have accused the Team melli coach of ignoring them in making decision that affects their teams and the matter came into a a loggerhead with the 4 clubs coaches taking part in the AFC Asian Champions league.

The other coach who was on FFIRI short list for the Olympic team was the Danish Flemmings, who coached his country’s u-21 team and also Mes Kerman youth teams.

Vingada has a tough job reviving the fortunes of the disappointing Olympic team which has failed to qualify for the final stages since 1980. After qualifying for the Moscow games, the first achievement of the post-revolution , Iran boycotted the Moscow Olympic games and subsequently the football teams did not have a chance to improve on their best performance in 1976 Montreal Olympics.  However , the U-23 team has performed very well at the Asian Games level winning a gold medal in 2002, one bronze medal 2006 and one fourth place ranking in 2010.

The proposed squad which will be available for Vingada will mostly consist of the U-21 players with prominent players such as Sardar Azamoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh available for selection.