Ali Daei should stay for 4 years - Kafashian

It’s been a disappointing start to Ali Daei’s career with Iran football National team. A debut loss to Bahrain in a friendly game, and few days later a World Cup Qualifier stalemate at Kuwait despite the 2-0 lead early in the game. Iran National team qualification to World Cup 2010 is again tied with uncertainties until the last moment of World Cup qualification campaign. While Ali Daei was shocked with Kuwait stalemate, qualifying to World Cup 2010 is still an expectation which can be paved through with more team consistency.
 
In an interview with Ali Kafashian, the head Iran Football Federation, who appointed Ali Daei, responds to the current National team's disappointing start of the campaign:

In response to the question regarding Iran's disappointing results in particular against Group E underdogs, Kuwait, and its relations to IFF mismanagement in the past 2 years, Ali Kafashian admitted the clear relation and insisted “if appointment of Ali Daei would take place a year earlier, Iran National team would be in better shape right now”. Kafashian also admired Iranian team's good performance against Kuwait and rated Iranian team's slow start in World Cup Qualifiers as a typical trend in history of Iran national team’s World cup qualifier campaigns.

IFF President however, stressed the importance of friendly games for Iranian team at this stage to further improve the team. He mentioned the upcoming meeting between Iran's manager, Ali Daie, with National team committee to discuss the team flaws and solutions such as organizing several friendly games for the National team.

Ali Kafashian also, complemented Ali Daei's inspirational start in his managerial games against Bahrain and Kuwait and stressed “he has to be given time to accomplish his goals”. Kafashian also expressed his satisfaction with Ali Daei's strong choice of Assistants, including Ahmadzadeh, Gholampour, Afazeli and Firat and called it “a balanced and strong technical team”.

In regards to newly elected IFF and its quest for a solid management organization, Ali Kafashian stressed the need for more time to be given to IFF management and he hoped in time, they can achieve the organization goals.

In a question regarding his possible reaction if national team's failures persist in road to world cup 2010 finals, and whether he would call for managerial change, Kafashian pondered that “the reaction would depend on situation and the case itself”.

Ali Kafashian also emphasized the need for more time to be given to Iran coaching team and “that their managerial performance can only be judged after at least several months”.

In response to a question doubting the chances of inexperienced Ali Daie's success in leading Iran to World Cup 2010, adding to lack of IFF management system, Ali Kafashian responded that “Ali Daei should be in charge of Iran National team for 4 years before the outcome of his work is evaluated”.

At the end, Ali Kafashian insisted on IFF's plan to support Iran coaching team in acquiring their requests and ensured that Ali Daei and Ahmadzadeh's dual managerial role issue will be resolved soon and they will both remain in charge of Iran national team in full time basis.