TEHRAN: Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi has made a pledge to the country’s football fans to take Team Melli to new heights.
AFC
Ghotbi has set his sights on winning the 2011 AFC Asian Cup
in Qatar and also helping Iran reach the second round of the 2014 World Cup in
Brazil.
The US-raised coach arrived too late to help Iran qualify for the
FIFA World Cup 2010 but has vowed to make amends with a new four-year plan to
revitalise Iran football.
“I want all Iranians to know that we did
whatever we could, but we could not finish successfully,” he told
media.
“I have prepared a four-year plan which Iran’s Football Federation
has called for. If it all goes according to play, Iran will not only qualify for
the 2014 World Cup but also reach the second round and win the 2011 AFC Asian
Cup.”
Iran finished fourth in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers to miss
out on South Africa. Korea Republic and DPR Korea finished first and second to
gain automatic qualification while third-placed Saudi Arabia go on to play
Bahrain in a two-tiered play-off.
In the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, Iran
are leading Group E with four points from two matches, one point ahead of
Singapore. Also in the group are Thailand and Jordan.
Ghotbi is now
negotiating with the Iran Football Association to extend his contract.
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