Kalnawi: If political issues were involved, we would not have come to Basra.
Amir Galnoi, head coach of the football team:
If we had known that the cancellation of the direct flight from Tehran to Basra was due to political reasons, we would never have come to Iraq.
Iran's honor is more important to us than anything else.
The tournament in Basra is a good opportunity to give space to young people and prepare the national team for the Asian Cup of Nations and the next World Cup.
The national team has not played in Iran for about 500 days and if we cannot host in our country, Basra can be the host option.
Said Azatullahi, the team's midfielder:
The younger ones should appreciate the opportunity to be in the team.
The two preparatory games of Basra are useful for young players and they should not miss the opportunity to be in the national team easily.
Experienced players have the duty to help the younger ones coordinate and deliver the best performance.