Tag: Gary White

02/09/2015

Queiroz :“We need to rekindle the spirit of the World Cup 2014″

Carlos Queiroz invited the fans to support Team Melli in its quest for qualification to FIFA World Cup 2018 starting with the home match against Guam in Azadi on Friday.

In the pre-match news conference, the head coach of Team Melli believed that his team has the best available players in Iran and assured the fans that they will be witnessing a winning spirit by the best squad that is available to him.

“We need to rekindle the spirit of the World Cup 2014 team and that of the Asian Cup 2015. If we do that, I am confident of winning all the way. Tomorrow’s match is important step for us and we must come out as winners. I am sure you will see a competent performance that will make you happy.” Queiroz added.

The Friday match which was supposed to be played in Karaj , Enghilab stadium , was switched to Azadi because of lack of quality hotels in Karaj!

The confident sounding Portuguese coach and true to form took the opportunity as always to take a swipe at his critics and that phantom “Enemy of Team Melli” ! Accusing some without naming them, Queiroz said “Some people don’t like to see Team Melli winning and those people don’t like to face realities. They are upset because of my support for Kaffashian (…)” That last comment was perhaps more directed at Ministry of Youth & Sports. Kaffashian has warned Queiroz about confronting the Ministry earlier on.

[quote class=”If we did not want him, we would not have signed with him after the World Cup”]”When we played our first two matches we set the target of being on top of the group. But people laughed at me when I said that. Well, look at us now, if any team takes us too lightly they will trip up.” [/quote]

Guam coach Gary White

Asked about his response to Guam Coach who said that it is Iran that will be under pressure tomorrow, Queiroz said “I have no problem with that statement, he is free to think however he wishes. Let me tell you that I am thrilled to be under pressure. Those who cannot stand the heat should not be in the kitchen cooking.”

Queiroz who is also the master of stating the obvious, sarcastically targeted those who questioned his commitments “For those who follow football, they know that Guam has won 2 matches and heading the group with maximum points. So, it is not a team to be taken lightly. We respect them but that is as far as it goes.”

Queiroz only recently returned to Iran after a long absence leading to some criticism from section of the press that he is undermining Guam team while the more difficult game against Oman is not given its due importance as far as team preparation is concerned. Team Melli only gathered for training about 1 week ago.

Despite the unending wrangles of the Portuguese coach, his gallant selection of a young team has given him an advantage and silenced a large section of his critics scoring a moral victory in the process. Whether he can sustain this victory is all dependent on the outcome of the next two matches. Failing to beat Guam could be the catalyst for the coach. On the other hand, two good results and 6 points will go a long way in increasing the Portuguese popularity at least amongst the fans.

The match on Friday against Guam is at 19:00 local time.

GROUP D
TEAMS	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
GUAM	2	2	0	0	3	1	2	6
OMAN	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	3
IRAN	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1
TURKMENISTAN	2	0	1	1	1	2	-1	1
INDIA	2	0	0	2	2	4	-2	0

29/08/2015

Guam training in Osaka Japan while waiting for Iran visa.

In preparation for Guam’s fixture against Asia’s No. 1 country, I.R. Iran, on Sept. 3, the team and staff have all gotten together for a weeklong training camp at J-Green Sakai in Osaka, Japan, thanks to the generosity of the Japan Football Association.

For over a decade, JFA has been immensely supportive of football development in Guam and this was recognized in front of dozens of Japanese media in a press conference held this past Friday in Tokyo. Matao team members and staff were all present at the event to thank JFA for the organization’s assistance that has helped fuel the success of Guam’s national program today.

Guam’s football success

Gary White, or the “Gaffer,” the Guam Football Association’s technical director and head coach of the men’s national soccer team, has written:

The recognition of JFA’s support over the years of Guam’s football success comes at an opportune time, as the Matao are currently group leaders in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Joint Qualification Round 2, a feat unparalleled by many of Asia’s top countries.

Now that we’ll be facing off with Asia’s highest-ranked country in a few days in Azadi Stadium, a venue with a capacity of over 100,000, we continue to thank JFA for its support in arranging accommodations and training at the beautiful and world-class J-Green Sakai facility in Osaka, Japan.

After our match in Iran, the team looks forward to returning home for its match against Oman, a country ranked in the top 100 in the world. We hope to play in front of another sellout crowd, with fans in every corner waving Guam flags and cheering the team to another milestone victory.

28/08/2015

Queiroz ” Guam visa hassles nothing to do with soccer”

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Iran coach Carlos Queiroz says the frustrations faced by the tiny Pacific island of Guam in obtaining visas to travel to Tehran for a World Cup qualifier next month give just a glimpse of the problems long faced by his team in negotiating international soccer.

Iran, Asia’s top-ranked soccer team, has been dealing with the effects of American-led sanctions for years.

Those sanctions may have been lifted in July, but as yet Queiroz says there has been no let-up in the complications involved with being in charge of Iran’s soccer team.

As well as the absence of some western embassies in Tehran, the Iranian Football Federation has struggled to gain access to international funds, hold overseas training camps and play warm up matches.

Iran also has visa problems ahead of its Nov. 17 World Cup qualifier in Guam.

Guam is an unincorporated U.S. territory and entry requirements are the same as for any other U.S. destination. However, in a bid to boost tourism, the U.S. federal government has implemented a Guam-only visa-waiver program for most Asian countries.

”The situation is very complex because Guam play under the umbrella of the United States, but this is football,” Queiroz told The Associated Press. ”It is very difficult for us to find a way to get visas for our players because Guam demands the list 60 days in advance.

Not only that, all the players must go the American Embassy but there is none in Iran,” he added. ”So the question is: how can I find a way to release players from their club duties to spend three or four days in a foreign country to get the visas? We are in trouble.”

Queiroz, who took Portugal to the 2010 World Cup and Iran to Brazil 2014, wants the Asian Football Confederation to step in and find a resolution to the problem.

”The AFC should come across and, once they accept Guam to play in this competition, they must be clear with the rules,” the Portuguese coach said. ”Guam must find a way not to force the Iranian players to spend three or four days to get a visa in a period when the clubs don’t release the players so this is a very difficult situation for us.”

If no other solution presents itself, Queiroz, a former coach of Real Madrid, is ready to use what should be training time before an October qualifier against Oman to secure the visas.

”This is what we have at the moment. Instead of preparing for the game with Oman we will instead have to go to Turkey or the (United Arab Emirates) instead and go to get the visas to play against Guam which is a bizarre situation.”

Guam has similarly complained of its problems obtaining the proper documentation to enter Iran for its Sep. 3 qualifier despite, according to the Guam Football Association, starting the visa application process in June.

”Any visa or logistical matters are being handled by my executive and president Richard Lai and they are capable of dealing with it,” Guam coach Gary White told Associated Press. ”As far as I’m concerned, we are playing in Iran on September 3 until told otherwise. My focus is on the team and the preparation of the team. We are excited and motivated and are looking forward to what should be a great test.”

Guam, under its English coach, has won both games so far in the second round of qualification and sits on top of its group.

The island of just 170,000 people has climbed to 146 in FIFA’s world rankings and is one of Asia’s most improved teams, but playing Iran is as testing off the field as on.

These are problems Iran should be accustomed to. Years of sanctions affected the ability of the IFF to access funds from world governing body FIFA and the AFC, and therefore pay for facilities or organize training camps overseas.

The cancellation of the relatively few friendly matches arranged for the team have been a common occurrence over the years.

After the 2014 World Cup, during which Iran gave a good showing despite earning a single point from three games, Queiroz explained that he was ready to leave but was persuaded to stay by a federation that believes the situation will change.

”It was my hope that things could change and that we could have the right conditions to prepare the team for the World Cup in Russia,” he said. ”The federation board still believes that with the end of the sanctions there is now a chance to put something in place to change the situation. Let’s see. I have this perception that things will not happen in the short term.”