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PFDC - When Saipa of Karaj started rebuilding
in 2003-2004 season, they had to be rescued from relegation through the wild
card games after finishing the season next to the last. Saipa faced several
coaching changes from that time, before bouncing back last season to become
a championship contender. They finished third, seven points behind first
place Esteghlal of Tehran.
But it wasn't till this season that Saipa put a solid performance together
to lead the league at mid-season with 34 points, ahead of popular Esteghlal
and Perspolis of Tehran which are trailing with 30 and 25 points,
respectively. Perhaps, partial credit for this performance should be given
to Saipa's last year coach, Dr Bijan Zolfagharnasab, who took this team from
finishing 13th in 2004-2005 to finishing 3rd in 2005-2006. But, no one can
deny the role Ali Daei has played for Saipa this season. The 38 year old
veteran is the league's leading scorer with 8 goals while coaching this team
as a player-coach.
Only few weeks into this season, Saipa was stunt when newly acquired German
coach, Werren Lorant, quit this team citing woeful working conditions at the
club as the main reason for his sudden resignation. But things worked out
for better as Ali Daei was selected by the club management to replace him.
Daei has had the luxury of working with several world class coaches
throughout his outstanding career, and had no problem adjusting to the new
position rather quickly. He has been known for his leadership and his
understanding of the game, and such qualities as well as his scoring ability
were the main reason for Branko Ivankovich to insist on using him in
national team despite his age. And, all the above has been proven once again
with Daei's new team in domestic league.
Saipa's style of the game resembles of the national team that Ali Daei
played for last year. They play diamond 4-4-2, with defensive midfielder
Ebrahim Sadeghi and veteran play maker Dariush Yazadni playing the main role
in midfield, and behind forwards Ali Daei and Ahmad Momenzadeh.
The defensive line also plays a major role in this success story, mainly due
to services of central defenders Jalal Hosseini and Hamid Farzaneh, and the
right back Mohsen Arzani. Others worth mentioning are newly invitee to
national team, Rahman Ahmadi, in goal keeping position, Javad Ashtiani in
left wing, and Mohsen Khalili in offensive midfield.
Whether Saipa would be able to maintain the lead in second half, and finish
the season as the champion, remains to be seen. The second half of the
season would prove Saipa's true value as the season-long marathon would near
the end, and older veterans Ali Daei, Dariush Yazdani, and Ahmad Momenzadeh
would face the tough challenge of keeping up with the competition to the
end.
By Mansoor Ansari
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