TEHERAN, March 4 (AFP)- Hundreds of
Iranian football fans held a vigil here Monday at the hospital where
coma-stricken former international captain Ahmadreza Abedzadeh is
battling to recover from a brain hemorrhage.
Abedzadeh, a goalkeeper and star of Iran's 1998 World Cup campaign, was
admitted to Kasra Hospital on Sunday and has been in a coma ever since.
Hospital sources said Abedzadeh's life was not in danger however.
"We are here because he gave us so many moments of happiness and
glory," one of Abedzadeh's well-wishers said outside the hospital
here Monday.
The former goalkeeper became a folk hero in Iran when the team
successfully qualified for the France World Cup four years ago, pulling
off a series of saves in the memorable 2-2 play-off draw with Australia
in qualifying.
He also kept goal for Iran in their politically charged first round
match against the United States, a game dubbed the 'Mother of all
football matches'. Iran won 2-1.