Armenian To Play In Germany For Iran’s Soccer Squad

ARMENIAN TO PLAY IN GERMANY FOR IRAN’S SOCCER SQUAD

Armenpress
May 19 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: Iran football boss Branko Ivankovic has
picked up ethnic Armenian Andranik Teymourian as the only Christian
player of his 23-man squad for this summer’s World Cu in Germany.

The Armenian language newspaper ‘Alik,’ published in Tehran< said
in a series of recent games of Iran’s national squad Teymourian has
displayed himself as an excellent player. Ivankovic described him as
‘new and exceptional phenomenon in the Iranian football.”

Teymourian began his soccer carrier at 17 playing first for Ararat
Armenian team of Tehran, then he moved to Abumoslem FC.

The Iranians have been drawn in Group D to face Mexico, Portugal and
Angola. Ivankovic’s squad features also veteran striker Ali Daei, who
will be playing in his second World Cup after appearing in France eight
years ago, while there are also five Europe-based players selected,
including Bayern Munich’s former Asian Player of the Year Ali Karimi

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS