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Star striker will not play for national
team "until a major change in our
football system"
By Nader Jahanfard
April 22, 2004
iranian.com
Nader Jahanfard in San Jose, California, is a
correspondentfor Irankicks.com where this piece originally appeared.
You can debate
and exchange views here on this inteview with other Irankicks
Discussion Board members. This morning when I called the Bochum
striker Vahid Hashemian, I was full of
hope. Deep inside I was filled with anticipation; I wanted
to hear
something different. I imagined Vahid in our national team scoring
goals
against our rivals in Asia. I pictured him in the front line
attacking our
opponents with no mercy!
I wanted to read the headlines all over the world
that Iranian striker
Hashemian has led our team to Germany 2006! I really wanted to
believe that. Do
you know why? Because Vahid is worth it, he is a very good
football player,
he is on top of his game, he is one of us.
When I started questioning him about Team Melli,
he was not very happy
talking about his situation with the national side. He told
me that he is
tired of everybody focusing on this issue. I really wanted
to hear this from
Vahid himself, that was my main focus of this particular
issue today.
I congratulated him for his recent contract with
the German giants Byern
Munich and asked him about it. He said:
As you all know
Byern Munich is one
of the top teams in the World, playing for them is an honor.
I had many
other offers from different clubs in Bundesliga but I chose
Byern Munich.
Almost all the players in Germany like to play for this
team, I am happy
that the deal went through. Given the fact that you are
a first team player in Bochum now, are you not
afraid of being benched in Byern Munich because of the
fierce competition
among the players in this team? Do you remember that Daei also
did not get much playing time there?
Mr. Daei was one of the pioneers in
Bundesliga, out of about 34 games he
played in 23 of them and that is not a bad record. I
believe that no one
should be afraid of things like this, with hard work
and consistency I can
be a fix player in Byern. I am not going to let anything
stop me from
getting ahead in this team.
I am going to ask you about
Iranian National team. I want you to once and
for all talk about your decision so we can all get
a better picture of
what's going on.
It is every player's dream to play
for his National team; it is an honor. Playing for
your country is like getting an honorary doctorate. Players have
to help their National team but at the same time the
federation and coaches
have to help the players too. I really worked hard
for about two years to
help Team Melli, but I did not get any positive response.
They benched me and paid no attention to where I
was or what I needed. Now
the IFF is trying to take advantage of the situation,
I cannot let that
happen! They did not let me flourish when I needed
to, now it's too late.
You met Branco Ivankovich recently.
What did he have to say to you?
I went to Iran for the winter break
and met with Mr.Ivankovich. I gave him
my reasons and he accepted them. Branco also
traveled to Germany, we had a
brief meeting in which I emphasized on what we
talked before, he knows that
nothing has changed. I told him that until we
have a major change in our
football system, I would not play for the National
team.
IFF has many problems and issues with organization
and planning. They have
not been kind to me, I feel bitter about many
things. Many people have lost
their ability to play good football because
of these problems.
In your view what should be
done to correct this?
I am not an expert on this issue
but all I can say is; we have many old
timers with vast amount of knowledge in that
country of ours, IFF has to
seek their help and use their knowledge for
the good of Iranian Football.
When Bochum was on the German 2nd division,
I was really trying hard to be a
useful member for the team. IFF nearly destroyed
my chances at one point to
achieve this.
No one came to me to ask why I left Team
Melli after Two games? Age
is a big factor in a Football player's
career. I cannot be a victim of their
mismanagement!
But this is the way it is for
all the players and you are not the only player who went through
this?
I have made the decision with my mind
and not with my heart, as you see I am getting
good results because of it! In
our system if you are from Persepolis
or Esteghlal they give you all the support,
but all the other teams are left behind,
they don't get much attention.
I guess because I was a Paas player they
treated me this way.
Once and for all please tell
me about the rumors that Daei is the main reason for you not
joining the National
team!
This is absolutely NOT
true! Our team can always
play with 2 or 3 strikers, they can
always use both
of us in the same team.
As a matter of fact Mr. Daei's position
is center forward, he
plays in a different position than
I do. Mr. Daei is an honorable
man, I have a lot of respect for the
man, we have no problems
with each other. I believe some Newspapers
want to make him look bad so they come up with lies like
this!
Vahid jaan, you are telling me that
if Iran makes it to Germany in 2006,
you are not going to miss playing for
your National side?
My conscious is clear.
I will be very happy if Iran makes
it to the World Cup. I even promise
you
to go to the airport and greet each
player. But I am hoping that we do
this
without any side issues and controversy.
What are your thoughts on Mr.Ivankovich?
I
have not had a chance to work with Branco but he has a good record.
He was great in Busan, he is getting good
results with the team, I wish him
all the best.
How do Germans deal with Iranian
players in Bundesliga?
Well every one has a different
opinion about this. By now Germans
are used
to seeing Iranian players, we
are not strangers any more. I
have
a good
relationship with the Bochum
organization, we are getting
good results right
now. I am very comfortable in
Germany in general.
When do you
start with Byern Munich?
I start practicing with the
team on July 1st.
What are your thoughts on Iranian
football?
We are
the best in Asia. We have
many talents but
we have
to find
a way to
use them. Our players have
a great level of skill, we
must
find good
coaches
to direct these players.
Any message for football
fans?
I wish them all the best. Please
tell every one that I do not want to talk about
my
issues
with National team any
more. It's getting to be annoying
now!
Thank you Mr. Hashemian
for your time.
I wish you great success
in the future.
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