National footballers will raise funds for quake victims: Daei

Tehran, July 6, IRNA -- International Ali Daei announced that national players are to play Monday and Friday, raising funds for quake victims.
National hero Takhti did his best to help people in the war-hit Bouin-Zahra 40 years ago, said skipper Daei, adding that "and now sportsmen must take Takhti's act as a striking example of morale and roll their sleeves."
Sports community has several times promised to financially support the bereaved families in the quake-stricken Hamedan and Qazvin, western Tehran, but no serious measure has been so far taken, said the captain. People have all the time supported the athletes and help them make great successes, said Daei, adding it's now the sportsmen's duty to rush to the people's help.
The main aim behind the two friendlies in Qouchan and Ahvaz is to pay back our owe to the people, former Bundesliga-bound player said.
Yahya Golmohammadi, Javad Manafi, Javad Nekounam, Behzad Gholampour, Mehrdad Minavand, Majid Norouzi, Reza Torabian and Davoud Mahabadi have voiced their readiness for playing in Qouchan, northern Iran, and some national footballers are to play in Ahvaz, south of the country, Daei added. 
"On July 15, we plan to raise funds for the unattended and orphans in Noshahr, Mazandaran province," the popular player continued.
Daei asked national footballers, veterans, sports writers, journalists and people to attend the three symbolic, charitable matches, proving the sports community's preparedness for supporting the needy.