Most Iranian fans are devoted to the Tehran giants Esteghlal and Persepolis. But it is the relatively unheralded men from the steel-making city that are involved in the biggest club match in Asia.
Zob Ahan face Korea Republic’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma at the Tokyo National Stadium in a bid to become the first Iranian team to win the title since the ACL was revamped in 2002.
And defender Farshid Talebi is hoping Iranian football fans from all over will support their cause.
“Nobody gave us a chance to qualify from the group of death, which included Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad and Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor, but we did it. I hope we will win the title and dedicate it to the Iranian fans,” he told the IRNA news agency.
“Our mission will be accomplished only when we win the continental title,” Talebi told Iran’s IRNA news agency before leaving for the Japanese capital.
“I think the psychological factor will play a decisive role in deciding the winner on November 13 and our coach Mansour Ebrahimzadeh is a master in that. I am pretty sure that we will be successful.”
Talebi is among 15 nominees for the AFC Player of the Year Award and he credited the club with helping him get into the shortlist.
“The atmosphere in Zob Ahan is very convenient for me to perform better and that was the reason for my nomination,” he said.
And if he can help them to victory, he has a great chance of grabbing the top prize won by such illustrious compatriots as Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ali Karimi, Ali Daei and Khodadad Azizi.