Mayeli-Kohan says under-23 soccer team needs all-out support

IRNA - Head coach of Iran's under-23 soccer squad said on Tuesday that his side is in pressing need for all-out support of people and officials for achieving success and booking a berth in 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Talking to IRNA, Mohammad Mayeli-Kohan added the under-23 side also needs constructive criticism, asking the press to offer appropriate proposals.
The under-23 team belongs to all people of Iran, said the newly appointed manager, adding that the problems facing the team should not be aggrandized because what the players need now is spirit and motivation.
Mayeli-Kohan said scores of off-the-field problems inflicted great blows on the team in past years, causing the under-23 side not to qualify for Olympic Games.
He referred to unfamiliarity of some (foreign) coaches with the conditions of the team and Iran's soccer has also damaged the under-23 team.
Four years ago, the u-23 side consisted of top players like Mehdi Mahdavikia, Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi, Pejman Jamshidi, and Dariush Yazdani but the then manager who was a foreigner failed to steer the team to the Olympics because he lacked enough knowledge and information about Iranian players and their capacities.