........Before the election results were announced, everyone assumed that Shojaaie doesn’t have any chances considering Sepanji’s years of experience as the deputy manager in women’s affair at football federation. Before the ballots were counted Sepanji who was so sure of her reelection told the reporters that she will held a news conference after the election to announce her plans for her new term in the office. Many were sure of Sepanji’s reelection especially after the rumors regarding the Athletic Education Organization’s disapproval of Shojaaie’s candidacy.

But at the end Shojaaie, the current golf federation deputy manager in women’s affair won the election for the football federation deputy manager in the women’s affair. Many say that she won the election mostly due to her husband’s reputation in football world; Mansour Pour-Heidari is the former coach of the national team and Esteghlal football team. Shojaaie won the election with 51 votes compare to the 15 votes that Sepanji got, an unbelievably low number for Sepanji. There was one white ballot also.

Shojaaie: “I entered the race because I love football”

It seams that with her new position Shojaaie have to quite her other job as the deputy manager in golf federation. So far she has kept quite about the matter. After the election Shojaaie told Shirzanan: “ I entered the race because I love football. I was a football player before the revolution. My husband, Mansour Pour-Heidari, is a football coach. My whole life is around this sport that’s why I always wanted to work in this field.” The newly elected deputy manager layout her plans as: “I am considering to create an atmosphere friendly for all ages, juniors and seniors (elders). The first priorities for me are organizing for new leagues and having more coaching and referee classes in Tehran and other provinces. With the credit that football federation gives to women’s football we can do good.”

Sepanji is not available

Although couple of days has passed the Election Day there is still no news of Khadijeh Sepanji. Her cell phone is off and it seems she could not bare her defeat. When she was leaving the meeting on Election Day she told reporters that she wishes Shojaaie a successful term.