I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MARCH 18, 2020 SPORTS 11 Amir Abedzadeh has big Jahanbakhsh offers aid to his hometown to fight dreams in football COVID-19 Amir Abedzadeh has had quite a football MNA — Brighton’s and Team Melli winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh journey. Still only 26 years old, the Marí- has offered a 1 billion Rials (near $7,000) aid to contain the timo goalkeeper’s insistence on “chasing coronavirus outbreak in his hometown, Qazvin. my dream” saw him try his luck in England He also posted a video, asking people to stay at home and and the United States of America, as well as follow the required guidelines to get through this pandemic. his home country, before finding consistent Major football leagues and sports events around the world top-level football in Madeira. have been put on a halt as a precautionary measure against the Amir talks about life on the island outbreak. known as The Pearl of the Atlantic, work- Based on the latest reports, as many as 80,881 coronavirus ing with José Gomes, going to the World cases, with 3,226 deaths have been reported from China and Cup under the orders of Carlos Queiroz, over 100,000 infections and 3,948 deaths from other countries. fellow Iranians also making a name for Italy reported no new deaths in the past day while the number themselves in Portuguese football and of confirmed cases stands at 27,980. his ambitions in the game. Iran stands next with 16,169 infections and 988 deaths as Before coming to Portugal you played of Monday. in Iran, England and the United States. Tehran says its fight against the outbreak is being severely What made you decide to come to Portugal? hampered by US sanctions, calling on the United Nations to My dream and my plan were to play help lift the sanctions and end the US “maximum pressure” in Europe, no matter what it took and I campaign on Iran. was prepared for the journey to be un- A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (pre- predictable. I had an amazing experience viously known as 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of in England, the US, and Iran. However, Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center with a population during my time in Iran, I knew I had to of 12 million, in late December 2019. go to Europe. I didn’t know how I was going to get there and I didn’t know that I would start in Portugal. However, looking back at it, I remem- Staying at home to be ber one training session while playing symbolic model to combat at Persepolis, I was talking to a fellow goalkeeper, Nilson Junior (former Vitória disease: Izadyar Guimarães, Moreirense and União de Ma- deira goalkeeper). I told him I would love IRNA — Iranian well-known para-swimmer Shahin Izadyar to play in Portugal and I would ask him termed staying at home as a citizenship behavior that could be questions about the talent level, quality, a helpful pattern in fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19). and what life was like there. Ironically We are all responsible for preventing the spread of the dis- enough, a few years later, I came to Por- ease; he said adding overcoming the situation requires taking tugal through a friend who was playing in collective action. the second league and he connected me In three seasons you have been com- season, but personally you have been in do you think this has happened? Do you Apart from various accomplishments, Izadyar has also won six with his agent. That is how I started my peting with Brazilian Charles Silva, another excellent form this year and have been the speak with Mehdi and Mehrdad? gold medals at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. journey in Portugal and I always knew I excellent goalkeeper, for the starting spot undisputed number one since September. I’m proud that after three seasons of The head of the Public Relations and Information Center of would come to a top-level league, it was at Marítimo. What is your relationship like Do you feel you have improved your game being the only Iranian player in a top league, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education said on Monday an opportunity for me to start somewhere with Charles? during your time in Portugal? that we have more Iranians present. Both that 14,991 Iranians have been infected with the coronavirus with great competition and talent. First and foremost, I respect all my Definitely, I believe there is no staying Mehdi and Mehrdad have been my team- (COVID-19) in Iran and 853 of them have succumbed to death. Did you know much about Portugal, teammates and I believe everyone wants in one place; you’re either improving or re- mates, both of them are great individuals Madeira or Portuguese football before ar- one thing: Marítimo’s success. I love the gressing. I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes who are doing their best for their teams. riving at Marítimo? competition and I love to compete. It is and turned my weaknesses to strengths by Ultimately, we are all trying our best to Marítimo was actually the first team I a primary factor in a player’s desire to adding more aspects to my game, physically be good representatives of our country in Iran karate secure four saw playing in-person when they played in improve and pushes them to do better. and mentally. I’m looking forward to doing this league. Lisbon. I knew the team and I had knowledge This results in the team doing better, so way more than I’ve done to this point and Rio Ave coach Carlos Carvalhal said Olympic quotas after that I was going to a really great team with I’m grateful for all the opportunities to help my team as best as I can. earlier in the season: “with all due respect an amazing history behind it. But, I didn’t compete during my career. You are one of just a few players who to Rio Ave and Portuguese football, Taremi top-class event in Madrid know anything about Madeira. Truthfully, I’m always trying to learn from all keep- have gone to a World Cup. Describe the is too good for this league and will soon canceled I didn’t know this island existed and was ers. I watch game film, highlights, and use experience of Russia 2018. be on a bigger stage.” Do you agree with amazed by how beautiful and remarkable it Wyscout to see what I can learn from other It was an amazing experience. The at- Carvalhal? How far can Taremi go? is. Once I landed, I told myself that moving keepers. I believe this way of thinking can mosphere, the vibe, the attention — it was I believe to reach the top or the next level, MNA — Iranian karatekas of Kumite discipline secured four forward there wasn’t any reason for excuses help anyone. My goal is to be better than remarkable. More importantly, it was a great a player must maintain a strong self-belief. quotas in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as two major ranking events and I have an opportunity to prove that I’m who I was yesterday and eventually become honor to represent my country and very I want the best for all my teammates from have been canceled due to coronavirus. able to play at the highest level in one of the best version of myself. proud to be the first player from Marítimo the Iranian National Team and Marítimo. I After Karate 1-Premier League in Morocco, the top-flight event the top leagues in Europe. Since then, all Results picked up when José Gomes to be at the World Cup. enjoy seeing my peers achieve great things, in Madrid has also been canceled as Spain is implementing strict I’m focused on is putting in the work every was appointed new Marítimo manager in At this moment, my focus is on the next as it continues to motivate me to continue measures to contain the outbreak. “The World Karate Federa- day and trying to improve myself while I November, but recent results have seen World Cup and I’m doing my absolute best accomplishing more on my path. tion regrets to inform that the event of Karate’s first-class series chase my dreams. Marítimo fall down the table. How do you to be able to help my team in 2022 when Also, it gives me another example of what of international tournaments scheduled to be held in Madrid How have you adapted to life in gen- explain the inconsistency? the competition is in Qatar. is possible. I believe no matter what anyone (Spain) from April 17 to 19 had to be canceled due to the Covid-19 eral in Portugal: the language, the food, We are all very grateful to be working How do you assess the work of Carlos says or thinks of any player, it all comes outbreak,” reads a statement by the WKF. the people, and life in Madeira? with a top-quality coach. I really believe Queiroz as Iran coach? What was it like down to what is within that person. I pray Well, since it isn’t my first time living that Marítimo is playing the best football working with him? with all my heart for all my teammates to alone and away from my family, I hav- since I joined the club.