According to the sports reporter of Tasnim news agency, Naeem Saadawi is one of the players of the golden generation of Iranian football after the revolution. He, who was one of the leading players of the national team in the 1996 Nations Cup, returned to Iran after living abroad for some time and even last week he was a spectator of the game between Foulad and Nasaji at Shohada Foulad Stadium and was welcomed by the fans and even the officials of Foulad Club. faced
On the eve of the 18th edition of the Asian Nations Cup, we had a conversation with the former defender of Persepolis and Folad Khuzestan, which is explained below:
* Tasnim: How do you evaluate the conditions of the national team in the Nations Cup?
Different countries are present in this cup and every team tries to enter the competition with necessary preparation and get the best results according to its potential and facilities. Other teams move based on professional principles and we only talk about professional football. We see how much trouble we have in our football. We only know about professional football and this is a pity for the country’s football officials. With all these interpretations, we have very good players and talents that I hope will produce good results.
* Tasnim: In the group stage between UAE, Palestine and Hong Kong, which team can challenge us the most?
In the group stage, I don’t think we will challenge much, but the Emirates may be able to play a good game against us compared to the other competitors in the group stage.
* Tasnim: If you want to predict the performance and position of the national team in the Asian Nations Cup, in your opinion, in what position do you think the national team will end its career in the Asian Nations Cup? And which teams are our main rivals?
At least we expect the national team to be among the final four teams of the Asian Nations Cup. I hope that the national team will reach the finals and win the championship so that the hearts of the people will be happy, but in different periods we had various excuses and issues such as bad luck, not playing preparatory games, etc., that in the end the national team did not win the trophy. In response to the next question, I must say that Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Australia are some competitors. Of course, the national team benefits from experienced and capable players who can keep us hopeful.
* Tasnim: Do you seem to have complaints about some things?
My only complaint is addressed to the players who are old. They should make a decision and open the field for young players or the decision-makers should very respectfully tell these people that despite all the hard work and valuable accomplishments they had, changes should start to inject new and double energy youth into the national team. Don’t forget that after the Nations Cup we have to prepare ourselves for the World Cup qualifiers and after that for the World Cup. We cannot appear in the next World Cup with these people.
* Tasnim: As a son of Khuzestan, you were in the national football team, but during the Qalanewi period and based on his taste, we saw Mohammad Amin Hizbavi’s removal from the national team list. Is your complaint related to the change of generation of the national team to Hizbavi?
Exactly. What else should a young man do to be invited to the national team? The player from the Foulad Academy has managed to reach the level of the main Foulad team and has been so capable that he has reached the level of the national team. His transfer to Al-Sad was not so simple and it was based on his ability. We must move forward in such a way that the future of our football is not like this. Gentlemen should decide and organize a farewell game for some players with the coordination of the technical staff. These players themselves were young and they were given the field from somewhere.
* Tasnim: Some believe that due to the lack of youth, the national team is known to the competitors They don’t let us win through analysis. Do you agree with this?
In today’s world and at the level of the national team, which team do you know that is not known and has not been well analyzed by rival analysts? The art is to be able to win the race despite the knowledge of your team. The players must know that all the movements and tactics of the national team have been carefully analyzed by the analysts and technical staff of the competitors.
* Tasnim: In recent years, protests in the Premier League and even the national team have become a habit and a pest. We lost the game in the previous two Nations Cups because of these protests to the referee. What do you think about this?
These events and protests rarely happen in other countries and are obsolete. At the level of Europe or even some Asian countries such as Saudi Arabia and other countries, they agreed that they should continue playing and these protests have no place. All these objections to the refereeing are not good. I hope that in our own league, with the development of hardware tools and facilities, the establishment of more video assistant referees, the increase in the level of knowledge and information of referees and the necessary culture, we will see less of these moves.
* Tasnim: You went to Shohada Foulad Stadium to watch Foulad-Nasaji game in the 15th week of the Premier League. In your opinion, how was the technical level of this game and other league games?
I don’t really like to go into details, but the game was not too technical. This isn’t just about the steel and textile game, I’m talking about the entire league. When the fans spend time and money to enjoy the game, the players should try to make these matches attractive and the quality of the work increases. Football is the joy of people and they are interested in it. Even the teams that spent thousands of billions should improve the quality of their work.
* Tasnim: Do you have any memories of the national team’s matches in the Nations Cup?
In the 1996 Nations Cup, we gave up the result of our first game against Iraq, but Mohammad Mayilikhan bravely used the youth in the national team and got the answer for his trust. The technical staff did a very important job at that time and what a powerful generation was formed and we were able to take the third place.
* Tasnim: The next question deviates a little from the serious atmosphere of the interview. Alireza Ustad Asadi’s own goal in the 1998 World Cup qualifier against Japan is one of the lasting and humorous memories that have been recorded since your presence in the national team. are you talking about
In that game I was not in the lineup, but two important things happened. The first one was the goal scored by Ustad Asadi and the second incident was Abedzadeh’s injury and the team officials’ intention to replace him. After the injury of Abedzadeh, the head of the national team at that time pointed to Nakissa to get up and warm up. We, who knew that our three substitutions were done, whispered to each other and a question mark was created, how are we going to substitute? Little by little, these whispers became louder and the kids asked the team leader that “all three substitutions have been made, how do you want to make substitutions?” In response, he said, “Don’t worry, I’m going to ask them (the match officials) to allow us to replace our goalkeeper because he is injured.”
* Tasnim: What about Ustad Asadi’s own goal? What was the reaction of the players in the locker room that day?
The reactions of the locker room were the same quotes that have been mentioned in the media until today, but mostly it was about the fact that Professor Asadi wanted to measure Abedzadeh’s level of preparation!