TEHRAN – The appointment of Mauricio Motta Paes as the head coach of Iran's national men's volleyball team has provoked mixed reactions.
The Brazilian has been appointed as the new head coach of Iran's national men's volleyball team, the Iranian Volleyball Federation announced on Wednesday.
Paes will lead Team Melli until the end of the 2024 Olympics, with the possibility of extending his term for another two years. Paes most recently coached the Epicenter Podlyany team in Ukraine.
Vahid Moradi, Interim President of the Volleyball Federation, said: “Paes is highly motivated, has a winning mindset and has achieved great results. She previously coached the French women's national team and has led several clubs. “He led the French national team,” he said, expressing support for Paes' appointment. “We won the league title. He also had a successful career with the Panasonic Panthers club in Japan. We negotiated with 20 candidates and finally reached an agreement with Mr. Paes.”
Paes replaces Behrouz Ataei, who was fired in October due to poor performance in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League.
Ebrahim Batanpalast, an Iranian volleyball veteran and former member of the federation's technical committee, said: “When I attended the meeting of the federation's technical committee, there were no Brazilian coaches among the candidates. “At that time, there were 15 names of Iran's top coaches.'' Members from all over the world were considered, and the final selection was narrowed down to four, including Angelo Lorenzetti and Roberto Piazza. ”
“The Volleyball Federation's vision should extend to the 2028 Olympics, because if the national team participates in the 2024 Nations League and 2024 Olympics without a coach, the results will be significantly different than with a coach. Because it's different.If the volleyball federation participates in the 2024 Nations League and the 2024 Olympics without a coach, the results will be very different.The volleyball federation will negotiate with a coach and a charismatic coach. 2028 Olympics. “The reputation of Iranian volleyball in the world has been tarnished and a new spirit needs to be injected into the national team.”
Nasser Mirfakhrai, member of the Volleyball Federation's Board of Directors and Technical Committee, also expressed his thoughts: “We have not been able to secure their services. Furthermore, due to the situation of our national team, top coaches are not keen on coming to Iran as it is unlikely that we will secure an Olympic quota. Maybe not.”
Iran's prospects for qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics are bleak due to poor performance in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and Olympic Qualification.
