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Persianleague
- Jun 24, 2002
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Hadj Khamis Salim (left) and Hamed Kavianpour after the press conference. © Gulf News

Gulf News - Al Wasl Club have signed in Iranian international footballer Hamed Kavianpour of Pirouzi Club of Tehran for a one-year contract, starting from next month. The Al Wasl Club officials have declined to announce the details of the deal, however, sources claimed that the deal is worth $500,000.

The talented Iranian attacking midfielder will join Al Wasl during their external training camp, to be held in Belgium in August, in preparation for the new season, which will kick off on September 11.

Kavianpour will replace Chilean striker Cristian Montecinos, who played for Al Wasl last season. The club coach Dutch Boskamp advised the board to replace the striker with a midfielder.

This was announced by Hadj Khamis Salim, Al Wasl Club board of directors chairman, at a press conference held at the club in Dubai yesterday. Abdullah Lutah, Al Wasl deputy chairman, Fat'h Allah Zadah, chairman Estighlal Club of Iran, Akbar Qamkhar, chairman Pirouzi Club of Iran, Kavianpour and Farhad Majiedi, the other Iranian player who was signed in for the third running year with Al Wasl, and other officials also attended the press meet.

Kavianpour expressed his happiness on signing for Al Wasl and play along with Farhad Majiedi. "I am glad to play for Al Wasl, and I know that Al Wasl is a leading club in the UAE. I will do my best for the club in the new season, and co-ordinate with Majiedi to lead Al Wasl to greater success," said Kavianpour.

Hadj Khamis Salim welcomed the new player and asked him to give out his best for Al Wasl in the coming season.

Akbar Qamkhar said he was sure that Kavianpour and Majiedi will be excellent ambassadors for Iranian football in the UAE and Al Wasl Club.

Fat'h Allah Zadah emphasised the Iranian players love to play in the UAE and Dubai. "They feel comfortable when playing in Dubai clubs. This shows the good relations among the youth in the two countries."

Zadah said Estighlal had turned down an offer from German club, Bayer Leverkusen, to sign in Farhad. "We prefer Al Wasl's offer than the Germans, because we know our players will achieve tremendous success while playing in Dubai," said Zadah.

Abdullah Lutah thanked Major General Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Head of Dubai Police and Public Security and President of Al Wasl Club, for his unlimited support to the club."Without Sheikh Ahmed's support we wouldn't have signed Kavianpour, or any other player. I also take this opportunity to thank the Dubai Government for their continuous support to the club."

Lutah added that the Al Wasl have decided to sign Kavianpour as a midfielder in place of Montecinos. "This was in tune to our coach's report to sign a midfielder instead of two strikers as we played with two professional strikers last season. We decided to sign in Kavianpour to play along with Farhad. We also have four young local strikers - Tariq Hasan, Hamad Ghuloom, Juma Darwish and Tariq Darwish. We must give them a chance to play, and with two strikers up front, they will never get a chance."

Lutah said that the Al Wasl Club will decide the next club of Montecinos. "Cristian is still an Al Wasl player, as one year of his contract is still remaining. We will decide where he will go according to the higher offer we will get, either from a club in UAE, or from outside," said Lutah.

Kavianpour factfile:

Age 24 years, Tall 176 cm, Position Midfielder (centre). Member of Iranian youth team (under-19), Olympic team (under 23), member of Iran national team in World Cup 1998 France, 42 caps for Iran, Gold medal in Asian Games, Bangkok 1998, Champions in West Asian Games, Lebanon 2000, Iranian league champions with Pirouzi Club 97, 99, 2002, Bronze medal Asian clubs championship 98, 2000, 2002.