Ghotbi Says Has Big Aims for Iran's Football

coach of Iran's national football team, has "big aims" for the side on its way to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The FNA's sports desk, quoting an informed source, reported Sunday that Kafashian had agreed that Qotbi should become the new coach. However, there was no official confirmation.

in a later interview, Ghotbi told FNA that if his appointment is finalized, he would do his best to realize those "big aims."

Although Ghotbi's appointment has not yet been made official by the Iranian Football Federation (IFF), the ISNA news agency reported that among the IFF he is the absolute favorite to get the job.

A special session was being held in the IFF to discuss the programs of two other candidates and the final decision was to be announced either later Monday or Tuesday.

Ghotbi said he had enough knowledge about Iran's opponents in the first qualification round - Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates - and had "a special tactic" for confronting them.

Iran has been the only national side in Asia without a head coach and started its World Cup qualification campaign with a disappointing goalless draw against Syria earlier this month. The second game will be against Kuwait next month.

The IFF in recent weeks tried to employ Portuguese Artur Jorge and Spaniard Javier Clemente but both efforts failed. Clemente had signed a contract but his main demand not to live in Iran permanently was eventually rejected by the Iranians.

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