January 7, 2000 - Niloofar Mohtasham-Nouri, Persian Center
-Photos: Bijan Sartipi

Oakland, California - Iran's National Soccer Team began their preparation for Sunday's game against Mexico today. Despite indications of jetlag, players jogged at a park near Lake Merritt in Oakland at approximately 10:30 a.m.

While the team members took an early afternoon break, an official press conference was held on the 21st floor of the Marriott Hotel at 3:00 p.m. Members from the Iranian, Mexican, and American press participated in a "question & answer" session led by the team's head coach, Mansour Pour-Heidari. The Director of Officials of the US Soccer Federation, Esfandiar Baharmast, translated the responses while Javad Zarrincheh , Captain of the Team, and Emilio Pozzi, Director of the US Soccer Federation, occasionally pitched in.

During the Q&A session, Mr. Pour-Heidari stated that the main goal of this trip is to familiarize the team with three strong opponents, in preparation for the Asia Nations Cup and World Cup 2002. The results are not important, these are friendly matches," Pour-Heidari said. "They are useful in preparation and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the team. The important thing is to really get to know the players." Additionally, he described the US Team as a "good team" that is improving everyday- - perhaps an indication that next week's game will not be taken lightly.

The team headed for the Oakland Coliseum at 3:30 p.m. for their first official practice game. All 21 team members participated in the warm-up exercises that included forward and backward running, "one-on-one" practice, and "keep away"; two players challenged the two goalkeepers while everyone else "scrimmaged". The handful of media representatives and tens of fans watched intently, anticipating their team's preparedness for the game against Mexico on Sunday, January 9, 2000. The practice ended with more cheers, autographs, interviews, and photographs, despite continued tight security.

Back at the hotel, most team members enjoyed a private dinner buffet at 8:00 p.m., while others battled jetlag. A steady stream of fans popped in and out of the lobby all evening, in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the team members and complete their "autograph" collections on balls or t-shirts. Some of the luckier fans enjoyed the luxury of chatting with Khakpour, Mahdavi-Kia, and Fanaei over dessert; all three were very generous with their time, energy, and smiles, until they retired an hour later. The team is scheduled to continue perfecting their skills at another practice session at the Oakland Coliseum at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, January 7, 2000.

Niloofar Mohtasham-Nouri, Persian Center
Photos: Bijan Sartipi

United Airlines Flight 649, arrived at the Oakland Airport from Chicago at 10:26 p.m. on January 5, 2000, carrying precious cargo: Iran's National Soccer Team. Over 300 Iranians and Iranian-Americans, adorned in flowers and smiles, gathered at the airport to welcome them to the Bay Area. Although the team did not enter the airport terminal to join the hundreds of adoring fans, they did receive a hero's welcome from friends, founders, and board members of Persian Center who were stationed at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Oakland. Security was tight, but nothing could contain the excitement in the air.

Pristinely dressed in suits and smiles on their faces, they welcomed the initial 30 cheering fans, despite their 36-hour ordeal (including a bomb threat on their Lufthansa flight from Iran to Germany). Persian Center presented them with their first welcome bouquet, and ensured them that they had many more visitors who were on their way from the airport. The team was quickly escorted to their rooms.

It only took ten minutes for hundreds of fans to start pouring into the hotel, desperately seeking a glance of the players. After a few phone calls and twenty anxious minutes, Mr. Safai-Farahani, the President of Iranís Soccer Federation, joined the guests who were chanting "Iran, Iran, Iran...Iran; Bachaha Motchakereem, Bachaha Motchakereem [friends, we thank you]. He stated, [in Persian] we are very thankful for all of your support. YOU are the main reason we have come to the United States! The players are very tired after their journey and need to rest; tomorrow, we will let you know when and where the practice games are scheduled. At that point, the rowdy fans were asked to disperse, to allow for the delivery of the team's luggage, which included a big box of uniforms entitled "shorteh sefid va ghermez" [red and white shorts].

The crowd slowly dissipated, leaving behind around fifty die-hard fans for another half-an-hour whose efforts paid off! Three members of Iran's National Soccer Team, Daei, Estili, and Kavianpour, came down to greet everyone, shake hands, and sign t-shirts, cards, and pieces of paper. Gracious and cheerful, they honored every request for photographs and autographs, as they joked and laughed with their visitors. Upon midnight, they retreated to their rooms, leaving everyone unfulfilled, yet even more excited about the upcoming game against Mexico, at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 9, 2000. GO IRAN!

(Our latest sources have notified us that their first practice game will be at the Oakland Coliseum at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 6, 2000.)