We are aiming Gold Medal, says Iran's Croat boss Ivankovic

Persianleague
- Apr 04, 2002
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MiddleeastFootball - KUWAIT CITY, April 3: Croat manager Branco Ivankovic said on Wednesday "Iran came to the West Asian Games with the Olympic side, still we will be all out to claim the gold medal", in a special interview with the Kuwaiti TV. Kuwait is hosting the 2002 West Asian Games, including a football tournament comprising of five nations, including Iran, Qatar, Syria and Palestine.
The nine-day tournament is staged under a round-robin format, at the end of which the ultimate leaders will gain the gold medal.
"We have secured the services of only 3 senior national team side players," added Ivankovic.
"The attacking pair of Ali Daei and Ali Karimi failed to make the trip to Kuwait, but we are still aiming at wining the football tournament here."
Asked about his general idea regarding the other participating nations, Mr. Ivankovic said "I have a comprehensive view about both Kuwait and Qatar who competed in the last Gulf Cup tournament, but Syria and Palestine are still strange for our technical staff."
"Despite playing against Palestine in the inaugural outing in the competition, we will be dictating our own scheme of play to them. The very same should be adopted against Syria, and I believe we will be heading towards some titanic encounters against both Kuwait and Qatar."
However, Qatar manager has other ideas in this regard. Frenchman Pierre Lechantre, who guided the side to a surprising second place behind Saudi Arabia in the recent 15th Gulf Cup, made it clear "we came with the senior national team side to Kuwait in order to win the football tournament.
"Only few players are missing the squad who made it to Riyadh, and I am convinced the race for the gold medal will be between Kuwait and Qatar."

04/04/2002: Iran v Palestine

04/04/2002: Kuwait v Qatar

06/04/2002: Palestine v Qatar

06/04/2002: Syria v Kuwait

08/04/2002: Qatar v Iran

08/04/2002: Syria v Palestine

10/04/2002: Iran v Syria

10/04/2002: Kuwait v Palestine

12/04/2002: Qatar v Syria

12/04/2002: Kuwait v Iran

 
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