Iranian of the Day

Sheer Delaan-e Iran

We love you all in Team Melli for the amazing courage you showed during your last game. God bless you all.

Viva Iran.

Dear Sunny:

Usually, the forums/news come up with interviews and photos/videos of the players whenever they arrive at the airport, home from an away match, but surprisingly, all has been eerily quiet. Many are saying the players have not come back yet, but then again, it's a wonder why no one has interviewed them since the match.

I pray they're all just keeping low profiles and that nothing is wrong. We usually tend to see gestures like wearing wristbands as "not a big deal" compared to kids facing bullets and batons on the streets. While those street struggles are very important and admirable..I think it's integral that we keep our eye on the players and figure out their whereabouts and make sure they do not get punished for making their feelings known.

I have a very very bad feeling, and having known some of these players, it just drives me mad to think something could happen to them.

Limoo

YOU are the animal. Who do you think you are accusing a girl fighting for her rights? Should she shut up only because an old fat man has an opinion? Who cares? Which generation caused the Revolution? Why should anyone respect a person because of his age? Typically Iranee-bazee.

She did a great job. All the Shahees and Monarchists can stay in the States living in the 60s and 70s. The new Iran doesn't need them.

Iranian of the Day

With sadness and lament, this young woman argues with elders her grandparents age. Such lack of respect makes me wonder who raised her...wolves or basij? Oh yeah, they're the same animal.

Here is the link.

Thank you.

//www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-273363

as far as I'm concerned

They won the world cup of Gheyrat, Hambastegi and...Baalandegi...:-)

It's THEIR world some of US shamefully live in!

Dameshoon garm

Dorood bar shir delan

Dorood bar shir delan footbalist.
//forums.iransportspress.com/showthread.php?t...

Safety of these brave players

The world should watch out for the safety of these six extremely brave players...
If not the world, at least the world of football and the very least should be ALL of US Iranians)
I hope and pray for their safety upon returning to Iran.
When are they supposed to get back?
As Assal_B has said:
--"It's one thing to be a nameless, faceless member of a crowd and wear green, but it's another to know the eyes of the world are watching you and to wear green in defiance of the government... "
Lots of love to them.

Yes it did take some balls...

Asal_B

Those who arrange and participate the marches nowadays across iran, are not exactly faceless members of a crowd. As a matter of it's their individual identities collectively,that give these rallies its own identity . I am not denying of what could have taken place in the locker room and the recommendations that were made by the team's officials, but it sure did not create a negative mindset, since they started the second half much more offensively and as a result they scored the first goal. What happened after the first goal was the result of their lower physical endurance and preparedness.

green wristband

it was a great show of courage and solidarity
well done

Right on!

I like your point of view anonymous77.  There should be more thinking like this.

my advice , if of any use

stay outside the country as long as you can (too dangerous for your lives and martyrdom is a fast show followed by immediate amnesia)and voice your opinions as much as you can.
What I am so worried about is the fact that if Ahmaghnejad stays in power, he will beg for Israel to bomb Iran and all Iranians would show a front of nationalism against the common enemy.

Moussavi, luckily is a clever strategy planner and being level-headed. If the Basij, the newly rich, shoot around mosques tomorrow , that's it. Moussavi has won.

I wish I could be there, but somehow I think it's silly for me to arrive at the airport to be transported to Evin immediately.

Whether iranian-born or not, I am on the side of justice

I'm going to say it:

It takes balls to do what these guys did.

It's one thing to be a nameless, faceless member of a crowd and wear green, but it's another to know the eyes of the world are watching you and to wear green in defiance of the government whose flag you're playing under. In those first forty-five minutes, I can only imagine what Karimi, Kaebi, Shojaei, Nekounam, Mahdavikia, and Nosrati were thinking--whatever it was: It was enough to keep their game strong.

Whatever was said to threaten them into hiding their wristbands the second half, it must have completely turned their positive mood into shit. Only Mahdavikia continued his defiance by keeping on his green. Had they been left alone re: the wristbands, I wonder what outcome the game might have had.

I hope they have safely arrived in Tehran and that they are not used as examples by the regime to scare green-supporters. Most of them probably don't care. Again, it took balls to do what they did, and they made their nation proud as a result; win or lose, team-e-melli will always be in my heart.

such radical gesture from such a docile lot!

Well, they can't play football so they might as well do something useful on the field.

Well done to the ones who "dared" to show support for their compatriots in such grand fashion!

Their Biggest Victory !!

On the very same day they got eliminated on the football field.   But who cares about football when you humble the rest of us with your courage.   

Thank you, my ever heroes

Mehdi Mahdavi-Kia(captain), Ali Karimi, Javad NekoNaam, Houssein Kaabi,Ando
We the people of Iran thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You brought some joy back into the country. God bless all of you. You are heroes and you are WINNERS to all of us.

I am proud of them

even though we did not qualify:(

Ramin

Great Initiative

and Brave ...

Best,

DK

It was Gov't fault Iran lost to Korea

Iran was ahead first half and in half time instead talking about game tactic and creating positive energy, Regime caused tension, threat and argument about removing green bands which reduced moral in 2nd half.

The team was a HERO and the true winner in the heart of Iranians for representing their will

We are very proud of them for the big WIN.

Sad

This Team Melli is the most likeable team since the 78 generation. It's very sad that they played a weak qualification. I hope they make it 2014.

Great Sons of Iran, Thank you...

Capitan Mehdi Mahdavi-Kia, Ali Karimi, Javad NekoNaam, Houssein Kaabi,

Thank you for wearing Green wrist band and show your support for Iranians ! You were the true soldiers of Iran on the field today.

The rest of Team Melli,

You played your hearts out and your best football ever... Thank you anyway...

Footbalist haye aziz

Footbalist haye aziz motshakerim.

Tears

When I saw their picture today on FB, it brought tears to my eyes. So proud of them.

Ali, you may wear a different color hat!

Thanks!

(I love it! those of us outside the country are just talk! we are so cute in analyzing the obvious. nothing constructive to say.) 

ali p.

at this point, i think the color green and mousavi have become iconic symbols for the anti-establishment movement of mostly young, but actually of all ages and backgrounds in iran. i imagine some did not even vote for mousavi (or even vote for that matter) but are participating in the demonstrations, wearing the color, and chanting mousavi slogans. i don't think there's any shame in it.

however, it's a matter of personally feeling comfortable with adorning oneself with these symbolisms. i personally don't feel comfortable chanting mousavi slogans or using his picture since i've disliked him for so long for being a part of the "good ole boys network" of the iri regime. surprisingly (to me), he has stepped up to plate. maybe he is in an atonement process. perhaps his soul can be salvaged after all if something positive comes out of this mayhem. as far as the color green, perhaps you can use green with white stripes (or black or the martyred) to distinguish yourself from the mousavi supporters. perhaps you will set a new trend and at the same time be able to show unison.

in my opinion, iranian politics has always been fragmented with no definite unified voice to lead the way. in 1979, iranians used imagery of khomeini and islamic propaganda to represent their revolution. the islamists had a strong grass-root organization and those revolutionaries who were not islamists rode the "khomeini wave" to do the unthinkable: topple the shah. they could not have (or simply did not) imagine the outcome. the political opposition is even less vigorous now than during the shah's since the iri has learned from his mistakes and quashed any attempt for groups to form organized opposition. here we're again and you're voicing the same dilemma: should i ride this wave, but with a bit more of knowledge than the revolutionaries of 30 years ago.

You Are My Heroes

You true children of Iran are my heroes. What you did, by wearing "Green" you showed your immense courage and you brought tears to my eyes. May you be protected from the blood-thirsty vicious mullahs and their goons. What you did means more to me than winning the World Cup.

Payandeh Iran va Iranian azadi khah

The color green

If you wear the yellow ribbon, the message is clear:

"I support the troops (That US troops that are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan) .

The color green's message is not totally clear. Is it?

We know, many protestors in Iran, are:

1) those, who are not really against the regime, but they do not recognize Ahmadinejad as Iran's President. They really like Mir Hossein mousavi, and think he should be, and is, Iran's President, because they like him and his ideas,

or,

2) those, who hate the Islamic Republic Establishment, and, without endorsing Mousavi, or Ahmadinejad, they support the recent Iranian movement for democracy and are showing solidarity.

 Anyone who is for the first proposition, should, and does, wear green.

 But if I wear green, would they know, that I belong to the second group, or should I come up with my own color?

our boys

they also put their heart into the game for us...

Too bad we will not be able to see this group again for long time.

You are great role models

Dear Players
Your country needs brave role models like yourselves who care about their people. You have gone down in history not only as footballers but human beings who care about their nation and human rights.
Farid Parsa

team meli

I had it with Team Meli. Poor play, coaching changes, excuses, etc. Then they showed my their true herat, when it REALLY matterd. Brave heros of Iran. You are champions in the heart of all Iranians.

We love you guys..

God bless you all..