Persepolis is on the verge of a crucial match against Naft Abadan and is facing a new challenge; ambiguity in choosing the team's captain. This match will take place while Mohammad Hossein Kanaan and Ali Alipour, two experienced stars of Persepolis, have been ruled out due to injury.
Absence of Captains and Its Consequences
Kanaan and Alipour are currently recognized as the first and second captains of Persepolis, and their absence could impact the team's morale and performance. Ali Alipour has recently returned to group training and is likely to be present in the match against Naft Abadan, but Kanaan's situation remains unclear, and his participation in this game seems unlikely.
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Who will be the new captain?
In the absence of Kanaan and Alipour, the question arises as to who will wear the captain's armband. In a recent friendly match against Gol Gohar, Mohammad Khodabandehloo and Payam Niazmand took the field as captains. On the other hand, during the training camp in Turkey, Ston Oruonov, the Uzbek star of Persepolis, was chosen as captain. Now, considering the current situation, Oruonov and Khodabandehloo are the main candidates for wearing the captain's armband.
Oruonov, who joined Persepolis about two weeks earlier than Khodabandehloo, wore the armband in the recent friendly match. However, due to ambiguity regarding his status in the starting lineup, Khodabandehloo may once again be the team's captain in this match.
Payam Niazmand, the experienced goalkeeper of Persepolis, is currently in his second season with the team and seems to be a candidate for the captaincy in the near future. If Kanaan and Alipour are absent, Niazmand could also be a suitable option for this position.
In any case, Persepolis' match against Naft Abadan on Friday will not only be in pursuit of their fifth victory of the season but also to determine the new captain. These changes in the team could have significant effects on the game and the team's performance, and Persepolis fans hope that despite these challenges, their team can achieve victory.
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