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[ran vs. ‘U.S.A.

one for the ages

IF you're planning to eat at North Vancouver’s Kabab Sara on June 14, 21 or 25, be prepared for some din- ing companions.

On those dates the Iranian soe- cer team takes to French fields in World Cup 1998 competition. The forth Shore [ranian’ community will be watching. And many will be watching at the popular Lonsdale Avene restaurant.

Kabab = Sara) owner Esmail Karimi is the Canadian national soccer team goalkeeper’s coach, and was recently named head coach of the B.C. under-18 boys team.

No surprise then that a France “98 poster is prominently displayed in the central Lonsdale restaurant's front window. Karimi is prepared for Iran’s three opening round matches, with a satellite dish on the roof, a big-screen television in the spacious basement level, and a small screen on the main level. His restaurant is als listed on B.C. Soccer's website asa place to watch live action.

As to finding a seat during ene of Iran’s three opening-round games, consider a qualifying match Iran played fate last vear against Australia, At one point, Karimi was offering $100 bills to anyon: who would Jeave his overcrowded Lonsdale Avenue eatery. No takers.

“The police came just before the game started because there were So many people in here,” Kabab Sara manager Parviz Sichani recalled, “We had to put a couple of TVs outside, and people were sitting uncer the rain. It was one of those B.C. rains, you know.”

Down 2-nil with just 15) min- utes left to play, the Tranians stormed back with two goals before rhe final whistle. Eran had qualified for the World Cup tor just the second time ever.

Sichani says many North Shore Tranians are proud of this sporting accomplishment.

“With war, the revolution, the hostage crisis, this is the first rime the name of fran is acconrpanied with something nice,” he said of his beleaguered homeland’s giobal image over the past two decades.

The televised games also repre- sent a cultural event for the North Shore Persian community. Sichani recalled seeing chikiren wearing Vancouver Grizzlies shirts at the

restaurant during the Tran Australia game, glucd to the _action.

“It’s surprising really, many of them can hardly speak 3 Persian,” Sichani said) of youngster.

“We thought all they know is hockey and basketball.”

As to fran’s chances of winning the World Cup, Sichani is hopefil, but realistic.

“Of course, we are not expect- ing a miracle from the team, but Wwe are expecting some surprises, he said, adding that the big game of the three will be the June 2) date in Lyon against the United States.

“If Iran beats them, you will know it,” he said witha grin. “The whole of Lonsdale and North Vancouver will know it.”

‘fran World Cup Matches June 14 — vs. Yugoslavia June 21 — vs. U.S.A.

June 25 — vs. Germany — Andrew MeCredic

FOOTBALL UNION ... (Left to right) Shaheen Football Club player Babak Shahbazi, team captain Reza Tahmagbi, Al McGregor and North Shore Multicultural Society president Sid Mirhashemy hold the North Shore Cup trophy the Iranian so

NEWS proto Terry Peters:

RCMP Staff Sgt. ecer

team won in the 1st annual Persian-RCMP game. The trophy was donated by the North Shore News.

North Shore Cup soccer game puts the boots to Persian stereotypes

Andrew McCredie Sports Editer andrew@nsnews.com

THE North Varicouver RCMP officer chased the Persian

teenager across the playing field.

As the policeman closed, the teen stumbled, giving the cop his chance. The teenager, however, had other ideas. Turning on his heels, the youngster deked his pursuer, faked another cop and booted a hard rising shor into the back of the net.

Rising shot? The net?

Two weeks ago the first annual North Shore Cup game pitting Shaheen Football Club against the North Vancouver RCMP was played in North Vancouver. For all involved it was muuch more than a friendly soccer gumne.

Following the Feb. 28, 1997, shooting of a young Iranian man in a North Vancouver movie theatre, and subsequent media blitz that cast the Persian com- munity in a negative light, North Shore Iranians made a concerted effort to bridge the gap berween their swelling population (conservative estimates put that number at 20,000) and the North Vancouver RCMP. Representatives from both the police and the Persian conmunity formed a task force and set out to break down the barriers of mistrust and ignorance that existed between the two groups.

“The (Persian) community is gerting used to Canadian life, and as the time Passes they are learning more about going in the same direction as the commu- nity at large,” said North Shore Mulacultural Society president Sid Mirhashemvy. “The older generations are realizing this is the only way to be successfi:l.”

Mirnashemy played a key role in getting the Shaheen Foorball Club and the police together for the friendly game, and, according to the Iranian native, the idea swas a natural: “Soccer is a big part of Iran hfe and Shaheen (Farsi for hawk) ais as a positive role mere! for young [ranians,”

The Persian team lent the police a few young Jegs and still won the North Shore Cup game 6-3.

Prior to the [ranian revolution in. 1979, the Iran national team was one of the strongest in Asian soccer, winning the Asian championship in 1968, 1972 and 1976, Then came the revolution and subsequent ouster of the Shah, fol- lowed by an eight-year war with Iraq. During the turbulent °80s Iran still had a passion for the game, but survival became more important than scoring goals, Despite the chaos, the Iranian team boasted world-class players during the 1980s, such as Changeeze Khan, Farshad Pious, Karim Bavi and Sirous Ghiaghran. Following the war with Iraq, Eran’s soccer team began to rebuild and in 1996 finished third in the Asian Championships.

sis month Iran will make what will be its second appearance in the World Cup finals. (Its only ather appearance was in 1978). Of tran’s three qualifying matches this month, che June 2) date against the United States is the biggest — if for no other reason, than the bitter political history between the two nations,

The Shaheen Football Club fields a youth team and a Vancouver Metro Senior League 2nd division team, and the majority of Shaheen players are North Shore residents. :

The North Vancouver RCMP, who count four Iranian-Canadian officers among their ranks, also believe the soccer game was a great way to bridge the gap berween them and the Persian community.

“The idea of the game was to get the youth involved,” Const. Tom Seaman said, adding that the RCMP soccer team is a little thin down the middle. “We wanted to play a hockey game with them (the Persian community) but they don’t have too many hokey players just yer.”

Mirhashemy reports the task force is achieving its obivctive of bringing the police and the North Shore lranian community together.

THE Shaheen soccer team com- petes in the Vancouver Metro Senior League 2nd division. Team members include: (front row, left to right) Tomo Otsuka, Sherwin Nabi, Shahab Vaezmir, Hessam Deynimi, Amir Mirtakhraei, Payam Imani, Mohsen Azari and Arman Ghanipour; (second row) Farokh Kheyri, Fereidoon Asraei, Arash Asadi, Bahman Hosseinpour, Sam Vakily, Hassan Lotfi and Keyvan Mafy; (third row) Babak Shahbazi, Farshid Shahbazi, Omid Afham, Farid Najafi, Bahram Yoosefi, Pedram Maieky, Reza Tahmasbi (captain) and Houman Shahmar; (top row) Saeid Babady (coach), Daryoosh Mehregan (coach) and Goodarz Tahmasebi (coach). Not in photo: Ali Akhavan, Hassan Motalebian, Shaheen Nabi, Shaheen Sadr and Navid Sarioighalam.

“Ir’s working perfect. Whatever we learn from youth we discuss with the police; and whatever we learn from the police we discuss it with the youths,” he said. “For example, a couple of youths were complaining about being, hassled by the police while they were waiting for a bus. So we asked the youths ‘Whar do you think the approach should be? ” .

The upshot was thar Sid spoke with RCMP representatives and discussed ways the police could approach the youths. “Start a friendly conversation, and then you can find out the information.”

Mirhashemy hopes the North Shere Cup — which is sponsored by the North Shore News, a local Iranian newspaper, Iran “PV, People’s Law Society, and North Shore Multicultural Society — will grow into an annual tournament attracting a number of teams.

“LT think this would really bring the community together,” he said. “Although we come from a smaller conumuniry, all of us, together, make up the diverse Canadian population. | believe that it is this diversity that can make us successful in local and world markets. Ac the same time the community at large can learn alout smaller communities.”