Tag: South Africa

Team Melli departs to South Africa with 11 players

Tehran.

Carlos Queiroz took a total of 11 players with him to South Africa for the scheduled training camp leaving behind all the players of the 4 Iranian clubs competing in the AFC Champion League.

The squad left on the early morning flight after much deliberation whether the camp should go ahead with such limited numbers.  Although no official statement has been issued on the status of the camp , it is believed that the rest of the players will eventually link up with the team.

Team Melli is supposed to play 4 friendly matches with undisclosed teams.

Majid Saleh the recently appointed assistant coach did not join the squad on the flight to South Africa as he is applying for Austrian visa for the next Team Melli camp.

“Querioz will stay until World Cup 2018” claims Kaffashian

The head of Football Federation FFIRI , Ali Kaffashian reveled today that Carlos Queiroz has agreed to extend his contract for another 4 years (Until World Cup 2018 in Russia) pending the resolution of some financial issues.

In a statement to ISNA news agency , Kaffashian said that despite earlier news about Queiroz not staying beyond his contract , the Portuguese coach has verbally agreed the extension. Asked by the reporter what made Querioz change his mind despite some  lucrative offers from Europe and South Africa, Kaffashian said  “Yes, Carlos Queiroz has many concrete offers from Europe and some of them were financially better than ours, but he prefers to work with Iran as he spent enough time here and he is quite familiar with the surrounding (…)”  

Pressed by the reporter on when will Queiroz give a definite answer , Kaffashian said “I personally think that within 20 days , he will give us a definite answer. What is important for us is that Queiroz is interested to continue coaching Team Melli. For us this is quite a good news and I think he will agree to continue with us.”  Kaffashian did not mention if his administration has given Queiroz any deadline for an answer nor did he elaborate if the federation is considering any other candidates if the Portuguese coach decides not to continue.

Queiroz was not available for comment and has been non-committal about his future with Team Melli, although the South Africans have taken it for granted that he will coach them after the World Cup.

Asked about the steps taken by the FFIRI to coordinate with the clubs on Team Melli program and why the supposed liaison and coordination meetings between Team Melli coaches on one side and club coaches on the other , did not materialize?  Kaffashian gave the customary wishful thinking that everyone should work towards the interest of Team Melli while he refrained from giving any reasons for lack of communication between his staff including Queiroz and the clubs! However , he pointed out that Queiroz has already met with Ghalenoei , Esteghlal’s coach.

“What about if the clubs do not agree with the set program of Team Melli because they we not consulted. Are you going to use political pressure by asking the government to pressurize the clubs?”  asked the reporter. The Head of FFIRI responded “I hope the situation does not develop to that extend that we have to exert political pressure on the clubs. I think we can iron out all the issues without any difficulties.” In response , the reporter said that the media have already been reporting that the meeting between Queiroz and Ghalenoei was fruitless and there was two different views with no accord in sight”, Kaffashian refuted that claim and said “In fact , it was a good meeting and both sides agreed on the road plan for Team Melli. The fact that they were introduced to each other and talked was in itself quite significant for us!”

Kaffashian said that Qatar FA has not responded yet on the request for the release of Montazeri and Jabbari for Team Melli camp. Both players will be playing in the Amir Cup during the time Team Melli’s is setting camp. There is no obligation for the clubs to release their players according to FIFA’s rules. Kaffashian said that he is willing to travel to Qatar to negotiate their release or send some one to deputize for him. Kaffashian did not say what tools he will use to convince the Qatari teams to release their Iranian players while actively engaged in an important competition.

Kaffashian said that he has no idea about the progress of attracting Aria Jasuru Hasegawa, the 25 years old Japanese Iranian player, to Team Melli. He was quite hopeful that the South Africa Training camp will be on again so Team Melli can play the host country “Nothing is definite yet ” Kaffashian said in his usual proverbial manner” We are still negotiating with other teams to play friendly matches. We will announce the plans when we get the approval of our opponents”.

And we live in hope.

 

South Africa friendly match is still on the cards.

The South African newspaper “The Daily Sun” Reported that Team Melli and South Africa will be meeting in Azadi in May.

BAFANA Bafana’s confirmed friendly international against Iran is seen as a veiled confirmation that Carlos Queiroz has began his work for Safa underground.
 
Queiroz is the current Iran head coach and highly-placed SAFA insiders have revealed that Queiroz was instrumental in the friendly match becoming a reality.
The rumour in the Safa corridors is that he will be announced as the new Bafana coach after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in July.
The match against Iran will take place in May.
Bafana will play against Brazil in March. They will then have two friendlies against Iran in Tehran and Australia in Sydney in May.

“Queiroz touted to replace Igesund” claims New Age Online.

A South African newspaper website, claims that Carlos Queiroz will be taking the helm of the South African national team after the World Cup 2014.

The New Age Online wrote “Talk of a new Bafana Bafana coach is gaining momentum, amid dwindling support for incumbent Gordon Igesund.

Igesund, whose contract expires in June, is reportedly a subject of investigation at the Safa over allegations he influenced his players to demand higher bonuses, weeks before the African Nations Championship kicked off.

The writing appears to be on the wall for Igesund, with weekend reports suggesting his fate has already been sealed.

The Safa top brass could roll back the time and appoint Carlos Queiroz as Igesund’s successor after the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Queiroz is currently in charge of Iran national team and will guide them in Brazil in June.

Queiroz, who has also coached Portugal, was a spectator at the recent Bafana matches in Cape Town adding fuel to growing speculation he could be keen on the job.”

Team Melli coach has already announced his intention that he will leave Iran after his contract expires, however the Portuguese coach did not announce his intention to join any side yet , hence the South African job is just a speculation at this time.