From poe

Van's Ambleside Beach
turned into an impromprua
red, white and green beach
party.
“Our nation is about
‘sport; not politics,” Fariborz
Lami orasped during the
Lonsdale Avenue celebration,
his voice strained from yelling
since the final whistle went to
end. the game ao hour carlier.
His face was streaked with
paint from che melting tran
flags painted on his cheeks.
“ft was a great game; both
teams played well.”
Without question,
Sunday’s ‘sictory was the
biggest-ever soccer win ior
the’ football-mad nation of
Iran. All geo-political aspects
of the pairing aside (and the
“fact: the ABC telecast was
sponsored by the U.S. Army);
the game featured nwo evenly-
matched teams in one of the
most -catertaining World Cup
qualifying-round | games to be
~ played in France. The US.
ad plenty.of scoring chances,
bat thanks to a crossbar, a
oalpost and some spectacular
-saves by the [Iranian keeper,
the iy one god, could manage

1978. de only- other World

Cup final appearance).
“Thave. two of my players
‘here-and I told them te watch
“Tran needed. to hold. it
‘together for the first. 10 or 15
minutes,” said’ Kababsara
restaurant.owner — Esmacl
Karimi, who is the head coach
. under-18 boys

epicentre for the Iranian cele-
“branon:in North Vancouver.
Two, Vancouver, Film School
‘students. videotaped ‘the pro-
‘ceedings: for:.a World Cup
‘short film they are making on
chi country's supporters in
COUVET. :

north

shore news

© SPORTS
ran fans take to streets

are A ROD

aM Re LSS

NEWS photo Paul McGrath

FARIBORZ Lami (centre) celebrates iran’s 2-1 World Cup win over the U.S.
Sunday afternoon with fellow fans at Kababsara restaurant on Lonsdale Avenue.

Immediately following the
final whistle —- and some anx-
ious hands-in-the-pockets-
pacing — Karimi, Iranian flag
in hand, proudly led the 60 or
so Kababsara patrons on a
sidewalk parade south on
Lonsdale. to 13th Avenue.
Slowly the crescendo of honk-
ing cars around the North
Vancovver business district
builr-and drowned out the
chants of “fran... Iran...
tran...”

Haifan hour following the
game
Lonsdale at 15th and 17th
streets. The owner of the Rose
Bakery, which is adjacent: to
Kababsara, circulated through
the crowd with tray after way
of free pastries for the crowd.

“This is revenge for the
Canadian loss. We played this
game for Iran) amd Canads,”
said North Shore
Multicultural: Society presi-
dent Sid Mirhashemy, whe
was .among those who
watched the game at
Kababsara. ;

RCMP blocked — of f

“That was scary,” an elder-
ly woman standing in the
restaurant's doorway said of
the close game. Some Iranian
supporters couldn't watch the
final minates.

“I left che game with 20
minutes to go | was so ner-
vous,” said Kababsara manag-
er Parviz Sichani. “I walked
up co Lonsdale Drugs. Then !
saw. on a WV set there that
Iran was up 2-0, so J ran all
the way back here.”

A few weeks ago Sichani -

told the North Shore News
that “if [ran beats them (the
U.S.A), vou will know it. The
whole of Lonsdale and North
Vancouver will know it.”
Sunday — afterneon, his
hands gesturing oar the
swelling crowd around him, a
grinning Sichani said, “Do
you remember what 1 told

ro

your

Despite being opposed to
the currenr government rul-
ing Iran, many Canadian-
Iranians are strong supporters
of their homeland’s soccer
side.

They keep up with the
team via the internet.

Tens of millions flooded
the streets of Tehran and
other franian cities after
Sunday's soccer match in one
of the greatest celebrations
the cowatry has ever wit-
nessed. :

North Shore [ran fans
could very well rake to che
streets in joyous celebration
again tomorrow as the Traniao
side takes on the powerful
Germans ia Monipellier at
noon (PS-T.).

Should the [ranian team
beat the formidable European
squad, local fans will again
wave the flag for all to sec.

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