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Iranian Premier League: Power shifting away from capital [Tue Sep 20th, 2005]
Fans in the western city of Isfehan are happy at the moment, as the city’s two teams are sitting pretty at the top of the Iranian League.
2003 champions Sepahan are looking down at their city rivals Zob Ahan courtesy of goal difference, after both teams hold a 100% record in the 2005/06 Iranian Premier League with three wins out of three.
Zob Ahan finished last season as runners-up and while the new season is still very young, will be hopeful of going one better this time around, claiming their first ever Persian title.
They did however get a chance to see the trophy up close just a couple of years ago when neighbors Sepahan paraded the title around the historic city in 2003, the first time the championship had left the capital Teheran.
Sepahan have already defeated the reigning champions Foolad this season and are optimistic that the disappointment of last season with a lower mid-table finish and ending a whopping 29 points behind Foolad, can be put behind them.
The star-studded title-holders haven’t enjoyed the best of starts and currently prop up the rest of the league after losing both of their games so far and while it is early days, the team wouldn’t have planned on being nine points behind the leaders at this stage.
The other team with a 100% record are Pas. The 2004 champions have played one game less than the Isfehan pair, but are looking dangerous with two wins out of two. The team, driven on in midfield by Javed Nekounam, were not in action at the weekend due to their Asian Champions League commitments.
They became the first Iranian team to reach the knockout stage of the competition and with a 1-1 draw at Al Ain in midweek, have a good chance to progress to the last four this week.
It’s three years since Persian powerhouse Pirouzi lifted the last of their eight title and the team from Teheran are not accustomed to such barren periods or to seeing the championship leave the capital. Last season saw a fourth-place finish and this year they have started slowly, with two draws from their opening games.
Pirouzi’s fierce Teheran rivals Esteghlal have started better, with six points on the board so far, a good foundation for their attempt to lift a sixth title which would be their first since 2001.
The league table has yet to take real shape, but fans are shaping up for an exciting season in one of Asia’s most important football nations.
John Duerden
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