Tag: FIFA U-17 World Cup 2013

Mahdavikia: “the Nigerians were tremendous, Our team was shocked.”

Iran nigeria FIFA U-17

 

Mehdi Mahdavikia said the Nigerian team was tremendous  while our team was shocked in matter of few minutes .

After the crushing 4-1 defeat of Iran’s U-17 team in the FIFA U17 World Cup by Nigeria . Mahdavikia who was accompanying the team as an advisor admitted that the African team was way stronger than Iran. “in matter of minutes, the way the Nigerians played made our team fell apart. Nigeria had a very strong team. Their No. 11 player managed to run havoc on our defenses, and we had no answer for that. They were very professional and it was a deserving victory for the better team.” Mahdavikia said.

“Our players were not successful in playing a neat passing game and many of their passes fell short or intercepted by the opponents who created swift counterattacks and scored goals. Our players fell victim to their inexperience. We should accept that our opponents played much better than us. Their Height and figures looked like players above 17 years category .”

The former Captain of Team Melli : “I played soccer for many years but I do not know how can some of these Nigerian players can be less than 17 years !. There are a number of crucial factors at this level of football; stress and lack of experience are at the top. In this level, the young age and lack of experience sometimes makes it difficult for players to make the right decisions in time-critical situations.”

Mahdavikia in an interview with ISNA said that “the fact that the players reached the World Cup and qualified from group stage is in itself an achievement that we need to commend them and the coaching staff.  I believe congratulation is due. We need to face reality, our young players do not have a lot to offer and that is probably the most they could achieve at world level. Football in Iran does not pay much attention to the grassroots. Considering this, Doustimeher , his coaching team and his colleagues  did a marvelous and commending job creating this team in such adverse situations , to build a team to the World Cup after hard work lasting for three years “.

“After long consideration, I don’t think that Team Melli U-17 performed badly. We qualified from the group stage but faced a team like Nigeria which has the potential to reach the final. I believe that our team created an achievement under these circumstances. We tried our best to qualify but faced a strong team that we could not beat. Hopefully in the future our grassroots football is taken more seriously so that we can build better national teams. Again though, I believe that the work of the coaching staff to reach that far in the World Cup was a masterwork.”
Iran was eleimnated from the FIFA U17 World Cup in the 1/16 round by losing to Nigeria 4-1 in Al Ain.

Heshmat Mohajerani “Mahdavikia should work along with Queiroz”

Dubai

 Iran’s legendary football coach Heshmat Mohajerani praised the Iranian U-17 team and said this team should easily win its two remaining matches after their sterling display against Argentina, the current champions of South America. Mohajerani singled out Ali Doustimehr for rave commendation calling him a dedicated coach who has tremendous ability to work with youngsters and inspires them to do their best. “Doustimehr, time again showed us his quality and capabilities. He is a dedicated coach who has the interest of the boys at heart and works tirelessly with them to achieve a high standard of performance and create a team spirit and camaraderie in these youngsters.  They are able to deliver largely to the inspirational and technical powers of Ali Doustimehr. He is an asset for Iran.”

Mohajerani was speaking to reporters in Dubai during his visit to the Team Melli U-17 training camp where the U-17 are participating in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2013 . The veteran coach who is a resident of Dubai told the press “I hardly attend the senior team’s matches, but for the youngsters, I would not miss the opportunity to watch them live. It is a delight when you see these young ones play to such a level of football”. Mohajerani also praised the role that Mahdavikia is playing with the team. “Mehdi was a tremendous player; he is also a gentleman that has a lot to offer for Iran’s football if he elects to go into coaching. I have a lot of confidence in the potentials of Mahdavikia. His excellent character for a starter is a big advantage that is in short supply in Iran’s football. In fact I strongly suggest from now that Mahdavikia should work along with Queiroz as step in his career progression.”

Mehdi Mahdavikia is currently accompanying Team Melli U-17 in an advisory role. He has been praised by Doustimehr for the work he carried out for the team, including his exceptional effort to organize the Germany camp where the team had valuable matches with strong German clubs youth teams. Mahdavikia’s contacts in Germany and the respect that he is awarded there, enable Team Melli U-17 to set up the camp.

Commenting further on the potentials of Mahdavikia , the former Team Melli coach who took Iran to the 1978 World Cup , believes  apart from Mahdavikia calm character and the respect that he has for player and people around him, his long experience in Germany working under professional environment, will ensure that new ideas and mentality in introduced in Iran`s football.