Daei Says Will Play for National Side Until Needed

IRNA - Skipper Ali Daei Monday said he will play for the national football team until the technical committee needs him. Talking about growing criticisms on his long spell in national side, Persepolis striker reiterated, "I obey decisions made by the technical committee and serve the team whenever it needs me."

Former Bayern Munich striker added he is in-form and has shown his physical fitness to all and particularly the critics during the league matches.

National and Persepolis managers, Branco Ivankovic and Akbar Ghamkhar, have faced grill over fielding Daei full-time and why the veteran striker has been never replaced even when he is out of form.

Shifting to poor results of Persepolis, the regretful Daei, 35, said the world's top teams sometimes experience such conditions and Persepolis is not an exception.

Relegation-bound SAIPA rubbed salt into the wound of Persepolis, giving the reds an unforgettable lesson in Azadi stadium, west of Tehran, Friday.

Under Croat manager Vingo Begovic, Persepolis suffered a morale-sapping 3-2 defeat in the 24th-week derby of the third Iran Pro League in Azadi stadium, leaving a bitter taste on the die-hard fans' palate.