Interview
Farideh Shojaaie, the new deputy manager of football federation, in an interview with Shirzanan
Shojaaie said, “It has nothing to do with my husband”
Shirzanan- translation by Roja Najafi: One week has passed the election for the football federation’s board of directors and yet the side stories won’t stop on the new deputy manager of the federation on women’s affair. Farideh Shojaaie, the winner of the elected deputy manager denies any problems with in the federation regarding the surprising outcome of the election. In this regard a well-informed source told Shirzanan “ There will be many changes and many people have to go. After the defeat of the former deputy manager in the election, some people tried to create some problems for Shojaaie; they have been dismissed from their posts.” Here is Shirzanan’s interview with Farideh Shojaaie.
Your election brought up many rumors, before you’ve been the deputy manager in the Golf Federation, what made you change your federation and come to football?
I had been a football player for many years before I joined the golf federation. I am experienced in football and my husband is a famous figure in football in Iran. It was not so odd for me to nominate myself for the job.
Your name was not there in the first round of elections, some people even said you have been eliminated, and then you said in your interview with E’temad e Melli that you just entered the game to end all the rumors?
This is correct that I wanted to end the rumors, mostly because they were not true. But my main reason to stay in the race was my personal interest to football. I presented the idea for women’s football for the first time during Mr. Hashemi Taba’s term in the office. I am the one who held the first classes for women’s coaching and refereeing. You can see my love for football all over my résumé.
Did you think you could get more votes than Sepanji? She was very successful in her time in office.
I thought I could win the election but I never imagined I win it with so much difference. I got 51 votes and she got only 15. I was sure that I am a known figure in women’s sport in Iran. I served women’s sport for many years. I did many things for women’s football and that was the main reason for my election.
The rumors say that you won the election by using your husband’s (Pour-Heidari) fame and influence. How much of this is true?
these are false allegations. If I won the election it was only because I had enough experience and I presented my good work, not because I had a husband in football world. People know me enough to vote for m.
can you explain your future plans for Iran women’s national football team? Many say that the Chinese coach will leave, is this true? Who would come after her, there are news of a new German coach for Iran women’s team?
We have many plans for choosing the new head coach. We are trying to appoint a strong foreign coach for the team. We had meetings with FIFA and AFC. Our team has gone up to the next level in the recent matches and I think we need to have a better coach. I rather not to comment on the new coach for now; we are trying to hire the best coach we can afford.
