Have you ever tried to prevent a defective music player from repeating a grinding song over and over, and you cannot seem to stop the music or fix the machine?
Well the story of failing amendments, unaccountability and underachievement of Iran's national team is a similar example, albeit of a much larger magnitude. The grinding tune of collapse is played over and over again at all levels of Iranian football, the most recent being the public statement by Iran National team manager Afshin Ghotbi who confirmed he will leave his post at the end of the 2011 Asian Cup.
A man known for being the champion of change and modernity in Iran has given up on his quest already. The very same manager who optimistically claimed winning Asia's showpiece trophy was his goal and that of the Iranian Football Federation. In matter of days, he denied his interpreted “promise" to end a 35-year title drought.
"When one promises something he has to have control over all the circumstances but when I cannot control many of the circumstances I cannot promise the title," Ghotbi said.
The same empty promise was made last year during Iran’s World Cup qualifying campaign. The recently appointed Ghotbi at the time, as a former assistant coach of South Korea, certainly had a statement to make against his former employers. Thereafter he assured Iranian fans that “he knows both North Korea and South Korea like palms of his hands." In truth he did but was short of ideas on the pitch itself.
Iran left South Korea with the bitter taste of missing out on mixing with the world's elite football nations in South Africa in their mouth. Adding fuel to the fire of already volatile fans, the Iranian-American then showed his support for the controversially elected Mahmood Ahmadinejad by participating in his inauguration ceremony. While outside the presidential palace, there were thousands of marching election protesters getting arrested, beaten and jailed by the very same elected government. As the only national team manager who has ever attended political ceremonies, Ghotbi can probably acknowledge the irony.
The country being in turmoil at the time, an offer of a contract extension to Ghotbi was perceived by many as the only viable choice. The reality is, he has had enough time and resources at his disposal to form a quality team.
Advancing to the semi finals in Qatar is the minimum expectation, just as the popular Branko Ivankovic did in 2004. Where Ivankovic only had five minor friendly opponents against which to prepare for the tournament, Ghotbi has had fifteen, among them the likes of Brazil, South Korea and Bosnia.
Although Team Meli have shown improvement in both their possession and passing game recently, the fundamental defensive problems have remained, a weakness highlighted as the four-time West Asian Football Federation Champions unexpectedly were defeated by Kuwait in their October final. As if there is no limit to excuses and unaccountability, the “players’ lack of concentration ahead of the Brazil friendly" was the excuse given by the team manager.
The fundamental questions: Who will now dare to step up and shoulder the responsibility of a faltering team with a deterioriating record of qualifiying for the World Cup? What have been the Football Federation's goals - if any - during Ghotbi's reign? What achievement was made by the national team to justify the time, resources and money invested in numerous managerial changes in recent years? What was expected from Ghotbi’s predecessors and what is exactly expected from Ghotbi’s successor once he takes over?
The sad truth is, as anticipated by analysts, the Iranian team is likely to disappoint its millions of fans at the 2011 Asian Cup. In the meantime, Ghotbi will leave his position and hand over Team Meli like an orphan child at the end of the tournament.
What will likely follow will be the Football Federation's supposed negotiations with top foreign coaches, followed by frustrating delays in appointing a new manager whom at the end enjoys a free ride with no precise goal to work towards.
By Niloufar Momeni