PLDC - Tehran, What's going on with our football? Are we just running in circles?
We are no longer the new-comers to the world stage. We have gotten our feet wet several times, and now it is time to take a dive and show the world how well we can swim, sort of speak.
Iranian football is tangled up in drama, and sadly this takes the focus away from the game itself. Time and time again, we hear endless debates and arguments about kit-providers, match-balls, personal issues and fights, people's dissatisfaction with the referees, players not being paid on time, sponsors, lack of funding, and on and on and on. So what is the problem?
In my humble opinion, it all comes down to one thing, which is the lack of professionalism. Truth is, our players and coaches are paid very well, and sure the clubs might not pay on time, but the amounts that our players get paid are among the best in Asia and better than many European countries.
Our kit-providers such as Uhlsport meet and exceed world standards, our referees might make some mistakes just like referees anywhere else in the world, our match-balls are decent, and our sponsors might just be afraid to invest in our football because of the drama and lack of professionalism.
Our coaches and players need to learn to take up their issues with the specific committees allocated for solving these very issues, rather than ranting and raving in front of the media's microphones and cameras. Perhaps, we have become so used to voicing our concerns and dis-pleasures in this manner, that these issues might only be looked after if our footballers and coaches publicize everything- this very well could be the case.
Regardless, Iranian football needs order and professionalism. We are going to our fourth World Cup and we need to learn how to act like we been there, rather than acting like rookies every time.
We are a nation filled with talent in every position from goalkeeping to forwards. Our players have proven that they can play in the best leagues in the world and make an impact. We are not like our southern neighbors such as Qatar who invest hundreds of millions of dollars in football and hand out citizenship cards to South Americans, yet fail to qualify to the World Cup, even once. We are not like Saudi Arabia who go to the World Cup to lose 8-0, which is more of a volleyball scoreline than football. We are not like the UAE who go to the World Cup to lose all three group-stage games. We are Iran: the Lions of Asia.
It is time for our players to make sacrifices, even if that means taking pay-cuts to go and play in Europe. It is time for our coaches to act professional and discuss their problems behind closed doors. It is time for the officials and administration to pay more attention to the game and provide more funding. It is also time for us as the fans, the press and the media to stop adding to the drama and let things settle down so we can finally reach a new level of the game.
Brazil 2014 is near, and it promises to be one of the most competitive and action-packed World Cups ever. As Carlos Queiroz famously said, let's not go to Brazil for a vacation. Let's go there to show the world that we are a great football nation and that we can give the best teams in the world a run for their money.
Viva Iran. Viva football.
By: Arman Tamjidi