No better place for Vahid to open account

FCBAYERN- Summer signing Vahid Hashemian must be despairing of ever finding the net again. The ex-Bochum forward has yet to hit the target for his new club in 227 Bundesliga minutes, a full DFB Cup game in the 6-0 victory over Völpke and 21 goalless Champions League minutes.

The Iran international is keeping a level head despite the difficult situation. "That's football. I have to carry on training hard, battle, and see what happens," the 28 year-old told Friday's news conference at the Säbener Strasse.

Despite some intense and leading questioning from reporters, the striker remained friendly and relaxed. "I'm honestly not disappointed," he said, repeating like a mantra: "That's football." He rejected comparisons with Bayern's previous Iran star Ali Daei, who departed for Hertha Berlin in summer 1999 after just one season in Munich. "But I'm not Ali Daei, that was a completely different situation."

Vahid insisted he was not downhearted at the fact reserve striker Paulo Guerrero has been the striking substitute of choice recently. "I need to be looking at myself and battling away," he declared. He had always known it would be tough claiming a place in Munich, "and it's got even more difficult because the others are all on good form."

However, the player nicknamed "Helicopter" may well get a chance in Bayern's upcoming match, and could even be in line for a start. The Reds travel to Hashemian's former club VfL Bochum where he scored 16 goals last term. "I have plenty of happy memories of Bochum," the player confirmed.

With Claudio Pizarro doubtful, coach Felix Magath dropped a strong hint the number nine could make an appearance. "Players who come up against their former clubs are often highly motivated," the boss remarked, "and I'm hoping Vahid is in good shape for Bochum. He can count on some sort of appearance."

It would not be the first time in the topsy-turvy world of football that a player returned to a former stamping ground and struck his first goal for a new employer. Likeable Vahid's first comment would surely be: "That's football."