6 NOVEMBER 15, 2014 Kianoush Rostami Wins Gold in World Weightlifting Championships Asian Futsal Confederation Names Iran’s Hassanzadeh As Best Player of 2014 ALMATY (Tasnim) - Iran’s Kianoush Rostami claimed a gold medal at the men’s 85kg class at the World Weightlifting Championships on Thursday. Rostami lifted 178kg in the snatch and 213kg in the clean and jerk for a winning total of 391 kg. His performance in the snatch broke Iran’s record of 176kg set by Sohrab Moradi. Ivan Markov from Bulgaria claimed the silver medal with 390kg and Russian Artem Okulov took the bronze medal with a total of 385kg. The 2014 World Weightlifting Championships are underway in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The event, which ends on November 16, serves as a qualifier for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Iran’s Kianoush Rostami Exclusive Interview With Leonardo Pimenta TABRIZ (Presian League) - The following is an exclusive interview with Brazilian Leonardo Pimenta, regarding his move to Gostaresh. Pimenta, born in Rio de Janeiro, first stepped into the Iranian football world in 2007, when he joined Sanat Naft Abadan. He Brazilian Leonardo Pimenta then played for Tractor Sazi for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 Iran Pro League seasons. And now this 31-year-old Brazilian has returned to Tabriz, to play for Gostaresh this time around. What motivated you to come back to play in Iran? I’m back because I was happy in Iran. I enjoy my time here, and have lots of memorable moments. Gostaresh is a good team, and has great conditions for its players. I want to showcase my skills and work ethic for this great team. I know the coach (Faraz Kamal- vand), as I worked with him in Tractor Sazi, and we know what we need to do for this team. He is an intelligent and serious coach, and I like these qualities. How do you think you can help Gostaresh? I decided to come here because I love Tabriz, and love living here. I want to help this great team and this great city. I hope that next year, Gostaresh can finish in the top four of the IPL. But for now, I’m only thinking about helping my team move up the table, by working hard and scoring. Would you like to play for Team Melli? Playing for Team Melli is a dream of mine. If I get the chance to play, I’m sure I can make everyone proud. I supported Iran 100% in the World Cup. I like Carlos Queiroz and in my opinion he’s one of the top five coaches in the world. It would be a dream come true to play for Iran, and represent a country and a people that I love so much. Do you think Iran is the best in Asia? Yes. I’ve said that Iran has a very competitive Pro League. I can also say this about Japan and South Korea- Iran is definitely one of the best, if not the very best. This is why Iran was in the World Cup, and played two great matches (first two). Anything else, Leo? Thank you for your time. I wish luck for Gostaresh. Big love for the city of Tabriz, and God bless Iran! Ali-Asghar Hassanzadeh TEHRAN (IRNA) – The Asian Futsal Confederation has named Iran’s Ali-Asghar Hassanzadeh as the best player of 2014, per a letter the AFC sent to Iran Football Federation secretary-general. The letter says the superb and impressive show of Hassanzadeh in the AFC Futsal Championship 2014 and the eight goals he won in the games, made him known as the most valuable player of the continent. The AFC says the prize for the best player of Asian Futsal will be sent to Iranian Football Federation in November. Gucci Wants to Score Against South Korea TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran striker Reza Ghoochannejhad said that he wants to score against South Korea once again. Iran will face the Korean football team in a friendly on November 18 in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. Ghoochannejhad was Iran’s hero against South Korea, latching on to an error by defender Kim Young-gwon to score the winner in the 60th in Ulsan in the 2014 World Cup qualifier . Asked him if he wants to score against South Korea once again, Ghoochannejhad said: “I want to score in every game, however we have to forget our previous match against the team,” he added. “My priority is our national team and it doesn’t matter anymore who scores. I want to help my country, that’s why I am here,” he added. Iran, which is handled by former Real Madrid and Portugal head Iran striker Reza Ghoochannejhad coach Carlos Quieroz, is preparing itself for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Team Melli has been pitted against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Bahrain in Group C of the tournament. Pele ‘Recovering’ After Surgery Equatorial Guinea to Host 2015 African Cup of Nations CAIRO (Press TV) - The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that Equatorial Guinea will replace Morocco as host to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, after the sub-Saharan nation refused to commit to the tournament due to fears of Ebola outbreak elsewhere on the continent. The Egypt-based CAF added that Africa’s biggest sporting event will go ahead on the planned dates of January 17 to February 8, and matches will be staged at four venues in Bata, Ebebiyin, Mongomo and the capital, Malabo. “CAF wishes to express its sincere thanks to the Equatorial Guinean people, its government and particularly president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo,” the body said in a statement released on Friday. The administrative and con- trolling body for African association football further noted that the Equatorial Guinea’s side will be allowed to participate in the continental football tournament, where 54 nations play multiple round robin and knockout stage games to compete for the final 16 places, as the host nation despite being disqualified earlier this year for fielding an ineligible footballer. In July, the organizing committee of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations ruled that Thierry Fidieu Tazemeta, who was born in Cameroon, should not have played in the victory over Mauritania on May 17. It said no evidence was provided by the Equatorial Guinea Football Association or by FIFA that the player had successfully changed associations. The World Health Organization said in its latest update on Wednesday that the death toll from Ebola Football legend Pele RIO DE JANEIRO (Xinhua) -- Football legend Pele is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones. Location Equatorial Guinea AU Africa outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone increased to 5,147 out of 14,068 infected cases in the week to November 9. The 74-year-old was admitted to Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital on Wednesday after canceling an event at the Pele Museum in the coastal city of Santos due to abdominal pain. “Today he had surgery to remove kidney stones and he is now in a stable condition and recovering,” the hospital said in a statement. It is not the first time that Pele has suffered health problems. In 2004, the three-time World Cup winner underwent emergency eye surgery for a detached retina and in 2012 he had a hip replacement.