Amir Ghafour bids farewell to Iranian national team

A key player of Iran’s golden generation, 31-year-old opposite Amir Ghafour will no longer compete for the national team. The 2.02m-tall striker was among the 31 players on head coach Behrouz Ataei’s extended roster for the upcoming season before announcing his withdrawal from the team.

“Despite my technical and physical fitness, I think it is time to say goodbye to my country's national team. I believe in the new volleyball generation of my country and assume that, if they are guided correctly, they can repeat the achievements of the previous generation,” Ghafour wrote in his official resignation letter to the national federation.

After winning some world and continental medals with Iran’s youth and junior national teams, Ghafour made his debut for the men’s team in 2011, immediately celebrating gold at that year’s Asian Championship. Among his achievements with the national team jersey are a total of three Asian Championship titles, two Asian Games gold medals, a 2017 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup bronze and a couple of top four finishes at major world-level competitions.

"What I remember from when I put on the precious shirt of the national team for the first time was unparalleled joy and enthusiasm. I have no doubt that wearing the national team shirt brings such feelings to every honourable player. After that, the book of my sports life was written in camps, training grounds, games and competitions. I tried to never undersell and neglect, to stay away from the margins and to fight with all my heart. There has not been even a moment when I forgot respect, dignity and fair play,” stated Ghafour in his letter.

The opposite helped his country qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in history and represented Iran at both Rio 2016, where they took fifth place, and Tokyo 2020 where they finished ninth.

“The previous generation was the golden generation of Iranian volleyball, the generation that flipped the most valuable results in the country's sports history,” Ghafour continued. “For me, the honour of being a part of this generation and the memories I lived with them are incredible; memories full of friendships, arguments, wins and losses... The teachings written on the tablet of my life from these memories will never be erased.”

Amir Ghafour was the best scorer of FIVB Volleyball Nations League 2019 and of FIVB Volleyball World League 2014. He was also named on the 2019 Asian Championship Dream Team.

“I think this is life. It will not be easy to stay away from the team that I have been a member of for years, but the facts impose themselves beyond tastes and interests. There is no choice now, so I say goodbye to volleyball fans, warm-hearted and always accompanying spectators,” wrote Ghafour. “I am sincerely grateful to my friends and former teammates in the national team. They were and always will be the best.”

The Iranian athlete vowed to continue his club career, during which he went through several top-level Iranian teams and played for clubs in Italy and Turkiye. In 2019, he won the FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship as a player of Italy’s Cucine Lube Civitanova. Later that season, he also took bronze in the 2020 CEV Champions League. With his previous Italian team, Vero Volley Monza, Ghafour reached the final of the 2019 CEV Challenge Cup. As a member of Shahdab Yazd, he triumphed as 2023 Iranian champion and was named Most Valuable Player of the Super League season.

“I have wishes for success, victory and happiness in the future. Of course, as long as I can afford it, I will train and compete in club teams like before. Volleyball is my life and I will not leave it easily,” concluded Amir Ghafour.

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