Top News

Iranian soccer team has special goal

By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-16 08:22

HassanI Baghi Sadegh (center) of Iran and China's Qing Xiang (left) fight for the ball during the 7-a-side CP soccer match on Tuesday. Iran won 8-0. [Photo by Zou Zhongpin / China Daily]

GUANGZHOU - Winning the 7-a-side CP (cerebral palsy) soccer competition is not the only goal of Iranian coach Saleh Hosein and his team at the Guangzhou Asian Para Games.

"We came to Guangzhou to make new friends. We are also here, as the games slogan goes, 'to cheer, to share and to win'," Hosein said.

Given its outstanding performance two years ago in Beijing, Iran has aimed to win every match at the Asian Para Games, which has only four teams - host China, Japan, Korea and Iran - in the 7-a-side competition.

Iran secured the bronze medal after beating soccer giant Brazil 4-0 at the 2008 Paralympic Games.

"We have a long tradition of 7-a-side soccer for CP athletes. That's why I have the opportunity to pick the best players for the Asian Para Games," he said.

Iran won 7-0 against Japan on Monday and continued its good form with an 8-0 victory over China on Tuesday.

Iran has eight CP soccer clubs, and Hosein could choose whoever he liked for the national team.

"I selected the best players for the national team, and if they stick to the team's tactics, they should perform well in this tournament," he said.

"But at this event, the most important thing is to become friends with athletes from other countries," he said.

After the team's win against Japan, Iranian Vice-President Ali Saeedlou, who also heads the Iranian delegation at the Guangzhou Asian Para Games, visited the team.

"Saeedlou likes soccer very much. It was a special moment for us to share the victory with the vice-president," Hosein said.

"He praised our efforts and said we played excellent soccer."

China Daily