ISP Exclusive Interview with Navid Dayyani

Iran Sports Press: Hello Navid. Thank you for making this interview possible for ISP. Please tell us a little about your self.

Dayyani: First of all I would like to say Hi to all your readers. My name is Navid Dayyani, I Am 18 years old and I play football for AGF, in the second largest city of Denmark, Ã…rhus. My Father is Iranian and my mother is Danish. I also have an older brother Shahin, little sister Sophie and older sister, Nina. I go to the business college here and in about two years time I will hopefully be finished. Maybe I will have to drop school to concentrate on my football carrier. In the mean time I play for the second team because I go to school and do not have time to practice with the A team. Therefore I have to play for the second team.

Iran Sports Press: At which age did you begin to play football?

Dayyani: I started playing when I was 3 years and I have played at club level for the past five years for AGF.

Iran Sports Press: But you have also played for the first team?

Dayyani: Yes last year. I played 3 matches and I was the youngest player to ever play at the superleague. I got my first contract with the team when I was 15. They have told me that I should practice with them whenever I can. The team manager also wants me to sign a new full time contract. My current contract ends next year.

Iran Sports Press: You play for the youth national team of Denmark?

Dayyani: Yes I do and it is very interesting because we play important matches against countries such as Germany, Turkey, England and France. Last week we played against the Germans and we settled for a 2-2 draw. And it helps me a lot to become better and it even raises my chances to become a regular player for the first team of AGF in the near future.

Iran Sports Press: Tell us about AGF?

Dayyani: My team is on second position in the best league for U18. The first team is one of Denmark’s best teams although we are currently not doing too well. But we belong higher up the table (he smiles because he knows AGF is number 9 out of 14 teams this year).

Iran Sports Press: Do you have any Iranian friends?

Dayyani: Yes I have 2 good Iranian friends.

Iran Sports Press: Do you speak Persian with them?

Dayyani: Unfortunately I do not speek Persian, yet. But I do listen to Iranian music.

Iran Sports Press: Do you?

Dayyani: Yes I like Andy very much. I specially like Amene and Dokhtar Irooni.

Iran Sports Press: What do you do when you have free from school and football practices?

Dayyani: I hang out with my friends, we go to the movies or we play pool sometimes. But most of my sparetime at the moment goes for the driving licence I am taking.

Iran Sports Press: What do you know about Iran and Iranian football?

Dayyani: Well I definitely know that Iran is better than Demark at the FIFA rankings. I was very surprised when I heard about it. But honestly Iran has also played very good this year and they will make it to Germany 2006.

Iran Sports Press: Do you know any players?

Dayyani: Yes I know all of the Bundesliga players. Karimi, Navidkia, Mahdavikia, Hashemian and Ferydoon Zandi. I like Karimi and Mehdi Mahdavikia vey much. And I know there is a player called Navidkia. I think it is very funny that his name starts with Navid. I also remember a player called Minavand.

Iran Sports Press: Do you follow Irans matches?

Dayyani: Yes I do. I some times see them if Eurosport shows the games. Otherwise I sometimes check Iransportspress.com and see what is going on. I know Hashemian was a member of the site.

Iran Sports Press: Do you like Iranian food?

Dayyani: Yes I love it. My uncle makes the best food with rice, meat and vegetables. My mother also cooks Iranian food sometimes.

Iran Sports Press: If IFF invites you for the National team in a few years?

Dayyani: …I would be very proud to play for the national team. In 2-3 years I would also be in a better shape and become a better player hopefully.

Iran Sports Press: What about Denmark then?

Dayyani: I have enough time to see what happens until I am 21, because as long as I’m playing for the youth teams here in Denmark I will be aloud to play for Iran later on. Something I look forward to is to get an invitation from Iran’s football fedaration.

Iran Sports Press: Have you seen IFF’s website? (www.iriff.ir)

Dayyani: Yes I have but the site is not completed. The links do not work properly and the site is incomplete. Lets not talk about the English version (laughs) but I hope they update the site soon. It would be positive for Iranian football if more people could follow it.

Iran Sports Press: Last questions are two short questions. McDonald’s or BurgerKing? Pepsi or Coca-Cola?

Dayyani: Mc Donald’s and Pepsi.

Iran Sports Press: Thank you for taking your time Navid, ISP wishes you the best of luck!