For those who follow sports and watch sports programs on satellite TVs, Daryoush Zahab is a familiar face and his voice has found its way into our living rooms for many years. For most of the last 8 years, Mr. Zahab has been a constant pleasure of TV programming and his nightly sports program has been a staple show.
NOTE: The interview below took place in October of 2005.
Kaveh Mahjoob (Kaveh): Mr. Zahab, thank you for the opportunity. We have followed your work on TV and radio for a long time and enjoy the quality of your programming. Today though, the tables are reversed and you are the interviewee. We will get into a lot of issues and cover a lot of grounds.
Daryoush Zahab (Daryoush): Thank you for providing the opportunity to talk to your readers and friends all over the world.
The Early Years
Kaveh: Let us start by talking about you. Which part of Iran are you from and who is Daryoush Zahab?
Daryoush: I was born in Sari. My father’s job required us to travel a lot during my childhood and we lived in many different cities but my elementary and high school years were in Hamadan. Once I earned my high school diploma, I moved to Tehran.
From that point on, I began writing and researching about sports and eventually started to translate articles from Eng
lish for “Donya-a-Varzesh” which back then was one of the top two weekly sports magazines in Iran. My young sports journalism career took a turn when one day I met the legendary broadcaster, Mr. Behmanesh, at Amjadiyeh stadium. I did a football radio broadcasting test for him and he asked me to visit the Radio and TV studios the next day.
Unfortunately, nothing came out of that episode but my dedication to sports and science of it kept me going.
An interesting story for you is that when my younger brother was a child, I used to pretend to broadcast football games and that is how he went to sleep.
Wrestling and Football were the sports I loved the most but I made it a point to learn about all other sports and understand their rules. Back then, there was a English based TV station In Iran and it used to show NBA (Basketball) and NFL (American Football) matches. That is how I got introduced to these leagues and these games.
In Tehran, I studied accounting and in 1975 earned my Bachelors degree in Cost Accounting. That followed by a two-year Air Force military duty and in 1978 I move to the U.S. to earn my Master degree.
By then, I was married and had two kids. I studied at Lewis University in Chicago and Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies in Monterey, California. When Iran – Iraq war began, I decided to return home and stopped my education but eventually we ended up staying in the U.S.
Over the last 25 years, I have worked in a variety of corporate accounting roles including Corporate Controller and CFO of different companies. I had worked in the same capacity in Iran as well.
Kaveh: You mentioned about meeting Mr. Behmanesh and your work at “Donya-e-Varzesh.” How did your sports journalism career begin in the U.S.?
Daryoush: Between 1980 and 1994, as football and sports in Iran became less prominent, I became more involved in Basketball and NBA, American Football and NFL, Baseball and MLB and Boxing. By the early 90’s, once again, Iran’s football rose out of the ashes. With the advancement of technology and the availability of internet, we had more access to news and data from Iran.
In 1997, I began writing about sports with a few newspapers. In 1999, I joined “670 AM” Radio station in Los Angeles, and covered football and other sports for this Persian Language media outlet.
Getting into Broadcasting
Kaveh: Which game was the first game you ever broadcast live on Radio?
Daryoush: Interestingly, it was the Iran – USA match at Pasadena here in Southern California. That game took place on January 16th, 2000, in front of a packed house and resulted in a 1-1 tie.
Kaveh: A packed house indeed and almost 50,000 Iranians cheering their national team including myself in the stands. What happened next?
Daryoush: I continued on with the radio. For the 2002-2003 basketball season, I provided live reports of every Los Angeles Lakers games for 670 AM. I also worked in four different TV stations, covered Sidney Olympics and for some time worked with my friend Mr. Al-e-Safar. I started my nightly show, “Varzesh Ba Daryoush” 16 months ago and was a pioneer in producing and hosting a nightly TV sports show among Iranian sports journalists. During this time, I have produced over 400 shows and interviewed over 80 sports personalities of the past and present
Kaveh: Who do you consider as your mentor in broadcasting?
Daryoush: Mr. Behmanesh. He is a true expert and complete journalist. Sports broadcasting is not just all about statistics and results. The best broadcasters in the world do provide the most accurate and timely information but they also tell stories about the game and events around the game. Behmanesh’s work has always been beyond just sports. I am still in touch with him on occasional basis.
Additionally, I need to mention other TV sport pioneers in Iran. I have learned from Mr. Rowshanzadeh, Mr. Khodabakhshian and Mr. Adibzadeh.
Kaveh: Today, whose work (broadcaster) do you like the most?
Daryoush: I really like Adel Ferdosipoor’s work. He has his weakness in quality of his voice but in terms of delivery of information and attention to details, he is very impressive. He also is a courageous sports journalist and interviewer and a joy to watch.
Kaveh: What do you consider the job of a good broadcaster?
Daryoush: Researching your work to collect and deliver accurate news and information, sincerity in the work one does and creating excitement.
Kaveh: Here is an ethical question for you. Let’s assume you find out and independently confirm about a “football news” that would make Iran’s sports look bad and generate negative publicity worldwide. Would you sit on the news or break the news?
Daryoush: This is a tough question indeed. Let me think. I would not expose the news right away. I would review the consequences of the exposure of the news and at a time that I determine it would create the least damage to our football I would consider reporting it.
It is not the job of a journalist to create news or be a part of the news. However, it is my duty as an honest and responsible sports journalist to deliver accurate information to the public. If one betrays his profession, he will not last long. The difficulty of the premises you brought is the judgment aspect of it and when would be the right time to break the news.
I love my country and believe in bringing the problems to open and providing solutions for them, help in the long run to improve our sports and sports community.
Additionally, I would never rush to the press with information. It is better to report “a dated” news than to inflict a permanent damage.
Let me give you an example, I have received many tips about doping in our football. Because I have not independently confirmed these tips, I am not reporting them. Some may think that discussing doping in Iran would damage our football right before the 2006 world cup. I believe that the health of our sports and athletes is more important than participating in the world cup. So, If I would get my hands on the well documented proof of this issue, I will pass it on to my viewers.
Kaveh: For a while you did a radio show on FOX Radio. What was that all about?
Daryoush: Interestingly, when I broadcasted Lakers games, Iranian media, inside or outside the country, didn’t pick up on it. However, major sports media outlets like FOX and ESPN as well as local stations covered my show as they found the show unique and interesting.
Later on, FOX Radio contacted me and I ended up hosting a 15 minute NBA show in English titled: Farsi Friday, analyzing games of the week.
Wrestling
Kaveh: You always talk about wrestling in your program. What is the significance of wrestling?
Daryoush: In Iran, wrestling is not just sports. In the old times, we had “Pahlevans” who protected women and children in “Bazars” and street corners. These individuals had impressive personalities. Over the years, that “Pahlavani” tradition has remained a part of our wrestling and wrestlers culture. Our people have always loved and respected our wrestlers. I love the sport and as I entered high school, I used to teach my classmates the wrestling techniques, most of the time on the grass, believe it or not!
In Iran, wrestlers have mostly come from lower income sectors of the society. Despite all the financial difficulties, they have managed to make wrestling the most medal bringer sports in international tournaments.
Kaveh: Speaking of wresting, what do you think about taking younger wrestlers to Budapest in recent world championships?
Daryoush: We must destroy the taboo that once you are a national team member, you always will be. I admire the decision by Iran’s Wrestling Federation, to require all to participate in national championships. We took a much younger team to Hungry but this team will be much better in the future Olympic and world championships. We witnessed how a young Sourian, the world youth champion, defeated all opponents and won the title. We must trust our youths.
Quick Q & A
Kaveh: Let me ask you a series of quick questions and ask for quick answers.
Who is the best ever Iranian football player?
Daryoush: Parviz Ghelichkhani
Kaveh: Who is the best ever wrestler?
Daryoush: Takhti, Habibi and Movahed, love each one for a different reason.
Kaveh: Best Iranian athlete ever?
Daryoush: Abdoulah Movahed.
Kaveh: Best ever coach who coached in Iran?
Daryoush: Raykof (Taj and national team coach of the early 70’s).
Kaveh: Best Iranian coach?
Daryoush: Dehdari & Mohajerani.
Kaveh: Branko or Denizli?
Daryoush: Denizli
Kaveh: Jalali or Denizli?
Daryoush: Denizli
Kaveh: Mostafavi or Daadkan?
Daryoush: Mostafavi
Kaveh: Daadkan or Mayelikohan?
Daryoush: Mayelikohan
Kaveh: Best young football player?
Daryoush: Moabali , Borhani
Kaveh: Best current goalkeeper?
Daryoush: Vaezi
Kaveh: Best IPL team?
Daryoush: Zobahan
Kaveh: Do you agree or disagree with Jalali’s letter on Iran’s football problems to the Iran’s President?
Daryoush: Agree with some of his points but he chose a wrong venue. He should have written it to the people.
Kaveh: What should be Daei’s role in 2006 world cup?
Daryoush: He would need to be in the national team, until the world cup. He is not a 90 minute effective player anymore but would make an impact if he is used for limited times in big games. He is still a weapon and other teams do respect him.
Kaveh: Who should be Iran’s Capitan in Daei’s absence?
Daryoush: Mahdavi Kia
Kaveh: Who is Iran’s best current player?
Daryoush: Mahdavi Kia
Kaveh: Your most enjoyable interview?
Daryoush: With Raykof. That was his first interview with an Iranian in 30 years.
Kaveh: Your most frustrating interview?
Daryoush: My recent interview with Ali Jabbari. Jabbari himself was great but others called and suddenly the interview turned into personal feud between him and the former national team coach.
Kaveh: OK, let’s get back to few other topics. How do you see the 5th IPL season?
Daryoush: It is inconsistent. I see hopeful and disappointing signs. We don’t have the most basic infrastructure elements to be a premier and a professional league. A discouraging trend is how Greece style football when one plays for result and plays poorly has found its way into our club level. Abumoslem and Barg are good examples of this negative style of football. Of course, we also see that style in our national team.
Branko and the National Team
Kaveh: Speaking of the national team, what do you think about Branko’s assistants?
Daryoush: I respect Branko and accept the fact that he would need to choose his own assistants. However, if you take a cursory look at our assistant coaches, you can find many others in Iran as well as outside of Iran who could be more of help to Brnako.
Kaveh: Name a few Iranian coaches whom you like?
Daryoush: Jalali, Kazemi, Korbekandi, Ahmadzadeh, Mayelikohan, Karimi, Hedjazi, Poorhaydari and Talebi to name a few in Iran and Ghotbi outside of Iran.
Kaveh: What do you think about Branko’s lack of interest in Afshin Ghotbi?
Daryoush: Again, it is Branko’s right to decide who should work for him. I only introduced Afshin Ghotbi to Branko. It is amazing to me that even now he claims he doesn’t know Afshin Ghotbi and doubt his resume and coaching career. This new Branko is not the one I knew from two or three years ago and he has changed drastically. I have learned that he picked up Mr. Hooman Afazeli. I don’t know the gentleman but I wish him the very best.
Kaveh: There is a new trend in defending Branko by calling him one that gets results despite the unimpressive quality of the play the national team presents on the field. What do you think about that?
Daryoush: Good question. Let me start by saying that I am simply amazed that how an assistant coach of a head coach that failed to get Iran to the World Cup is now leading us in the 2006 campaign. That is unheard of.
I will not judge Branko’s technical knowledge but as a viewer, a fan and a media person, I will express my opinion. We made it to the world cup but we displayed an overall low quality of play in reaching there.
Recently, Mr. Ivankovich and his supporters have found a new excuse to defend their style of play and that is the defeat of Denizli’s Pas in Asian Club Championships. These people say that Pas played well but look what happened to them. Denizli’s team played well but failed yet “We” won.
From where I stand, Denzili’s team played logical and well. His team also defended the lead but his defending was different than Branko’s defending. Denizli has taught his team to defend with a series of passes to get the ball out of “own-field” whereas Branko’s team kicks the ball in the air to get it out.
Branko’s team doesn’t have a clear goal and strategy on the field.
Denizli taught his players the joy of playing a right type and pleasant football. To say that Pas was eliminated because they played beautiful football is unkind and unfair. Pas lost due to individual gross mistakes while Branko’s team has succeeded due to individual bright performances. Playing beautiful football doesn’t mean not getting results although even teams that play the most impressive of the games at times lose. I don’t think Branko would change his style as this style has gotten him this far. As mentioned earlier, the end result of such strategy is how some of our clubs have picked up Branko’s style for their clubs.
Kaveh: Is there anything you like about Branko? In your opinion, has he had any positive impact on our TM besides getting the results?
Daryoush: Of course, I think he brought stability and calm to our TM environment. I might not like his selections or game plan and style from time to time but I think players whom he selects and being loyal to for the past three years like him and respect him. That is not a small achievement and that’s why I have always said he should be on the bench of our TM in the World Cup. About his staff?...well that’s entirely a different story!
Kaveh: Perspolis and Esteghlal seem to have major problems all the time. Why do you think that is the case?
Daryoush: I don’t subscribe to any conspiracy theory. I would say though that every time one of these two begins to take control of her situation, something major with the management goes wrong. A strong Perspolis and a strong Esteghlal will help our football to blossom. In Spain you have Real vs. Barcelona. In England it has been Arsenal vs. Manchester United. Healthy Perspolis and Esteghlal are good things for our football.
Sports TV Shows Outside of Iran
Kaveh: Talk to us about producing TV sports programs outside of Iran.
Daryoush: Our most difficult challenge is the lack of resources to produce programming. Most TV stations outside of Iran devote and sell their times to professionals to survive and provide no budget for sports and entertainment programs.
We try to produce quality shows but don’t have the financial means and other resources. I tried to seek help from the fans of my show but viewers don’t trust the TV stations and therefore the level of fan financial support for my show has been very minimal. I decided to end my show as I didn’t want to produce average or low quality programming.
Kaveh: But you stayed on the air.
Daryoush: On a temporarily basis for 3 reasons.
1. Many people called, faxed and emailed and asked me to stay on.
2. The Manager of the TV network I am on asked me to keep it going until we come up with a satisfactory solution.
3. Once I announced that I was ending the show, a few sponsors contact me and said that they would support our show.
Kaveh: You kept the story of those who lost their lives in the Azadi Stadium in the news. Tell me more about what are trying to achieve?
Daryoush: One of my goals in my program is to pay attention to the problems of our sports and publicize the unjust behaviors in that community. I promoted the presence of women at Azadi Stadium for that reason. Similarly, with the tragedy following Iran – Japan match, I wanted to make sure families are paid attention to.
Look, most of those killed in the tragedy were the bread bringers of their families. Here we are months after the tragedy. The “Majels” allocated 170 million Tomans for the surviving families yet the money has not been distributed.
My biggest complain is about the national team players and IFF officials. They finally visited the families but it was too little too late. Mr. Saei sold his championship medals to help victims of Baam earthquake. I am disappointed that Mahdavi Kia, Karimi, Daei, Hashemian and others have not done more for the surviving families of Azadi tragedy.
Kaveh: Thank you for your time. This was an enlightening interview and I wish the very best with your career.
Daryoush: Let me take the opportunity to thank you and your readers. The cooperation between our two media outlets is an example of what I referred to earlier when I said that internet sites and TV should work together.
