TEHRAN – Iranian volleyball head coach Mauricio Motta Paes is optimistic about securing a spot at the 2024 Olympics.
Iran is scheduled to play Serbia in Brazil on May 22nd in the opening match of the 2024 Volleyball Nations League, as well as Italy (May 24th), Cuba (May 25th) and Argentina (May 26th). We are planning to compete against each other.
Iran's prospects for qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics are bleak after poor performances in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and Olympic qualifiers, but the Brazilian coach says it is not an impossible task.
“First of all, I would like to say that I have been into volleyball since I was eight years old. I am here to prepare the team for the 2024 VNL,” said the 61-year-old. coach said at a press conference in Tehran on Sunday.
“There are four teams competing for a place in the 2024 Olympics and our goal is to secure a place, which in my opinion is not an impossible task. “We have a chance to fulfill our potential,” he added.
With two key players, Mohammad Mousavi and Amir Ghafoor, leaving the national team, Team Melli will face a difficult task in the 2024 VNL.
“They honestly said that they might help us in the competition, but they are not ready for the event yet. I like their honesty. We have to concentrate on the upcoming matches, for example the match against Serbia will be very decisive.
“Now is not the right time to criticize, the focus must be on the 2024 VNL. There will be plenty of time to criticize the team after the competition. Cuba and Serbia also qualify for Paris 2024 “I believe in the quality of Iranian players and I am sure they will do everything they can to make that happen,” Paes said.
“We don't have much time, but we all have the same goal that we all should believe in. Iranian players should do their best for the national team.” Anyone who does not believe in this should not join the national team. Probably. We hope that the results will be in our favor this summer,” Paes concluded.