Karimi keen to make amends in Busan

Iranian star forward Ali Karimi is keen to make an impression at the forthcoming Asian Games men's football tournament following his side's disappointing performance at the recent West Asian Football Federation Championship.

The 23-year-old Karimi skippered the Iranian side at the WAFF Championship in Syria, but was unable to motivate a side made up largely of Under-23 players to retain the title that they won in Jordan in 2000. The Iranians lost to Jordan in the group stage and went out on penalties to eventual champions Iraq in the semi-finals.

A similar-looking Iran side will be hoping to make amends later this month when they kick off their defense of the Asian Games title in Busan, Korea. According to IranMania, Karimi is highly motivated to leading his side to their fourth Asian Games football gold medal and put to rest the memories of their disappointing WAFF Championship campaign.

"I want to be at the service of the National Youth Team like a soldier. If [national coach Branko Ivancovic agrees, I'll go to Busan from Kuwait and play with all my might," said Karimi to the Iranian press on Monday.

Karimi has been criticized in the Iranian press for his poor performance as captain at the WAFF Championship, but he said that the role was one that was forced upon him.

"I never intended to be the captain in the WAFF tournament. I even rejected the coach's offers but [Iranian assistant coach Hossein] Faraki said this was my duty and I had to accept. The papers then criticised me and they said that I had not performed well as captain," admitted Karimi.

"I was the captain unwillingly in the games. I accept that I did not play well in Syria and I am sorry. I hope the people and [former Iranian Football Federation president Safaei Farahani accept my apologies. I promise to make up for this if I play in the Busan tournament."

Karimi is now back with his UAE club side Al Ahli as they prepare to meet Al Kuwait in the second leg of their AFC Champions League tie in Kuwait City on September 24.

Iran are to kick off their Asian Games campaign against Afghanistan on September 27 in Busan. They are in Group E with Qatar, Lebanon and Afghanistan.