Patriotic women football stars to be welcomed in Iran
Prominent members of Iran’s national women’s football team, who made a patriotic decision to reject seductive and politically motivated asylum offers from Australia, have arrived in Malaysia to rejoin their teammates.
According to IRNA, Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali, and Zahra Moshkekar reached Malaysia early Sunday morning. They were officially welcomed upon arrival by Farideh Shojaei, the Vice President of the Football Federation for Women's Affairs, and Marziyeh Jafari. After a brief stay in Malaysia, the trio is scheduled to return to Tehran to reunite with their families and the nation.
Meanwhile, Valiollah Mohammadi, Iran's Ambassador to Malaysia, met with members of the Iranian national women’s football team, expressing his great pleasure in hosting the squad at the embassy.
During the meeting, Mohammadi welcomed the team to Malaysia, stating, "We are honored to host our national women’s football team. While we would have preferred to meet during the competitions, we are proud today to host you as worthy representatives of Iran."
Highlighting the status of Iranian sportswomen on the international stage, the ambassador added, "You are the women who have elevated Iran's name in global arenas and brought pride to our people. The fact that you remain committed to the sacred national jersey despite all the temptations from the country’s adversaries demonstrates your deep commitment and responsibility."
Mohammadi expressed his appreciation for the coordination between various embassy departments and Malaysian authorities to provide the best possible services and facilities for the team under current conditions. He specifically noted the efforts of the cultural attaché and other embassy staff in supporting the national squad.
The ambassador emphasized, "The people of Iran are eagerly awaiting your arrival and deeply appreciate your efforts and achievements."
He further revealed that Mehdi Taj, the President of the Football Federation, has confirmed plans for a grand official reception for the players upon their return to Tehran. Additionally, billboards celebrating the national team’s success have already been installed throughout Tehran in cooperation with the city’s municipality.
Concluding the session, Mohammadi expressed his hope for the players' safe and swift return to their families. "We have tried to ensure a peaceful and satisfactory environment for you here. I look forward to seeing the continued powerful presence of Iranian women in international competitions and many more honors for our country in the near future," he added.