PUNE: Winners of Season 2 – U Mumba, came into Season 6 of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) with a completely reshuffled team. The franchisee has given an Irani flavour to their team by bringing in the coach and captain from Iran.
Gholamreza Mazandarani became the first foreign coach in PKL, while well-known name in kabaddi fraternity, Fazel Atrachali is leading the U Mumba challenge in the on-going season.
Duo Mazandarani and Atrachali helped Iran clinch the gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games defeating South Korea, and now they are determined to clinch a trophy for U Mumba team too.
“I am happy to be part of PKL. It is an amazing tournament. In coming seasons there is a possibility that there might be many more new Irani players in the auction,” Mazandarani told Sakal Times in an interaction during the meet and greet session organised by the U mumba team.
Hadi Tajik and Abolfazl Maghsodloumahali are the other two Irani players who are the part of the Mumbai outfit.
In Iran, kabaddi was introduced in 1996 and Mazandarani followed the game keenly.
“In Iran kabaddi started from 1996. It began in Gorgan where we only had three teams to start with and from there the journey started,” added Mazandarani who played dual role of coach and player right from the start of his kabaddi career.
For Season 6, U Mumba has brought in youngsters like Siddharth Desai, Abhishek Singh, Arjun Deshwal, Darshan Kaidan and Surender Singh.
“Basically our team is a combination of young and experienced players. I am trying to bring out the best from them. They are improving day by day and also adapting my style of training.”
Gorgan-born coach Mazandarani feels fitness of Indian players needs to be improved if they want to become better players.
“Fitness levels of the Indian players is not up to the standards and they are not physically strong. India has managed to produce many kabaddi players but they have not given special attention towards fitness,” explained Mazandarani.
Language sometimes becomes a barrier for coach but he still manages to convey his message to the team.
“It is difficult sometimes but I feel kabaddi in itself is an International language so players can understand what I want to convey them,” added coach.
FAZEL LAUDS TEAM
- Fazel Atrachali who was also present at the occasion is satisfied with his team and he is happy the way his team’s performance so far.
- “In Season 2 we had many experience players but now we have more young players and all are very talented. We are improving our performance day by day,” said Fazel.
