Speaking during the opening ceremony of AFC Vision Asia’s latest project, Project Khouzestan, the province’s FA President Hamid Reza Garshasbi said:
“Khouzestan was one of the great football provinces in Iran. Fifty years ago, 11 players out of 22 national team players were from Khouzestan.
“We want to achieve this again. We would like Vision Asia to help this province by giving all the necessary guidance and help in many areas of football development.”
Khouzestan, the 11th Vision Asia project in Iran, received a three-day Assessment Visit on March 1, 2011, from an AFC Vision Asia delegation led by Development Officer Kaita Sugihara.
Also present during the opening ceremony were Director of Physical Education Organisation (PEO) Hamid Reza Garshasbi, City Council Member Ghasem Herizavi, Director of Sports in the Municipal Council Ghadir Veisi and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Abdolrahman Soleimani.
Garshasbi also dreams the same dream and has pledged support from his organisation.
He said: “We would like to achieve the level of football where we were. Khouzestan FA must make efforts for football development. The PEO and Ministry of Education also play an important role.
“We must make efforts so that we can provide quality players to the clubs. We can also help with the football facilities. For example, we are going to build a 50,000-capacity stadium.”