Iran appoint Mayelikohan

Less than 10 days after sacking its national football team coach, Iran on Monday named Mohammad Mayelikohan as its new coach to try and revive their faltering 2010 World Cup finals qualifying campaign, the ISNA news agency reported.
Iran's former coach Ali Daei was sacked following its defeat against Saudi Arabia in an Asian 2010 World Cup qualifier, seriously harming their chances of reaching a fourth successive World Cup finals.
"Mohammad Mayelikohan has been appointed by the Iranian football federation's management," the chairman of the Iranian football federation Ali Kafashian was quoted by the agency.
Mayelikohan first's challenges will come against North and South Korea in away matches and United Arab Emirates in Tehran in its qualifying campaign.
Group B is currently topped by South Korea with 11 points from five games, trailed by their northern neighbour who has bagged 10 points from six games and in third place is Saudi Arabia who also has 10 points from six games but with a fewer goals.
"We should not lose faith in our football, there is winning and there is loss. If we do not make it to the World Cup then we will plan for the next four years," Kafashian said when asked who will be held responsible if Iran fails to make it to South Africa 2010.
"Mayelikohan has exerted his efforts in the past and currently he has been appointed to the post by the federation management board's decision," Kafashian said defending the federation's pick.
Mayelikohan was sacked from the Iranian national football team coach in 1997 when they were struggling to qualify for the 1998 World Cup finals - they eventually did make it.
"After Saipa's games are over in the league in early May he will commence his work but for the time being he will embark on his primary task," Kafashian added without giving any details.
Mayelikohan is currently Iranian football club Saipa's coach which stands tenth in the country's premier football league comprising of 18 clubs.
The federation chairman said that Mayelikohan's paycheque was not discussed and that he accepted the post to fulfil his "national duty."
The announcement of Daei's dismissal who is the world record-holder scorer in international matches, came after his lacklustre performance as coach for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Iran, is fourth in Group B with six points from five games managing only a win and three consecutive draws.
Iran has appeared in the 1978, 1998 and 2006 World Cup finals. Team Melli's best results in the World Cup was in France 98 when Iran beat its archfoe the United States 2-1.