Title: Cultural Figure’s Sports Commentary Highlights Broader National Dynamics
Introduction
In a revealing interview, Moharram Ghasemkhani, a prominent Iranian screenwriter and public figure, used the lens of sports to discuss patterns of talent management and national morale. The conversation, held in November 2019, touched upon the performance of the Persepolis football club and broader cultural tendencies.
A Pattern of Undermining Success
Ghasemkhani articulated a widely observed phenomenon, stating that there is a recurring pattern where successful individuals are often pressured or undermined. He cited the examples of national team coaches Carlos Queiroz and Branko Ivanković, who delivered strong results but faced significant challenges during their tenures. He extended this observation to iconic national footballer Ali Daei, suggesting a cultural reluctance to let high achievers remain at the pinnacle for long.
Beyond the Football Pitch
The screenwriter emphasized that this tendency is not confined to sports but is also prevalent in other fields, such as cinema. He pointed to the case of acclaimed actor Navid Mohammadzadeh, noting that even for such a star, there are attempts to create a negative atmosphere. Ghasemkhani characterized this as a societal impulse to “bring down” those who rise too high, too quickly.
Analysis of a Team’s Struggle
Shifting focus to his beloved Persepolis club, Ghasemkhani analyzed their performance in the 19th league season. While he acknowledged the team’s roster of good players, he described their play as uncertain and lacking its usual quality at that point in the season. However, he remained optimistic about their chances for the league championship, a hope that ultimately materialized.
On Foreign Player Recruitment
In a candid critique of the club’s management strategy, Ghasemkhani expressed strong disappointment with one of Persepolis’s foreign signings at the time, a Brazilian player known as Júnior. He questioned the player’s credentials and effectiveness on the field, contrasting his performance with his appearance. He concluded by critically observing that the club had developed a “specialization” in making poor foreign player acquisitions. This comment was framed as a specific critique of club management decisions rather than a general statement.