TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) – Nader Faryadshiran, a national under-23 soccer coach, said on Saturday that the team’s main aim is to book a berth in the final of Athens Olympic Games.

“When I was a member of national team, Iran stormed into the final of 1980 Moscow Olympics,” former national goalkeeper told Mehr adding that “but the country boycotted the games since the ex-Soviet Union had occupied the Afghan territories. “Iran boycotted the Los Angeles Olympic Games, too. Now, I hope to find the way into the final of Athens Olympic as a trainer.”

He said if the LG Cup is held in Tehran, the under-23 team represents the country.

Training has stopped and the team is on holidays, said Faryadshiran and added due to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the region, the competitions that were to be held in August were rescheduled for February and the Football Federation has yet to make programs for the team. Faryadshiran added, “The door is open to everybody. Although the backbone of team has been formed particularly after the two-legged clash against Uzbekistan and any change in the squad seems illogical, the efficient players are invited to join us.”