The Persian Gulf Pro League may yet still be in its infancy at this stage in the season but recently promoted GolGohar are looking like they may push forward a formidable title challenge to reigning champions Persepolis. The Sirjan-based club currently sits in third in the league standings following a very impressive start to the season which has seen them rack up wins against MesRafsanjan, Machine Sazi and Sepahan. Despite a scintillating start to the season, GolGoharface a major uphill battle in their quest to secure their first ever Iranian league title.
Founded in 1997, GolGohar have spent most of their existence in the Azadegan League (the Iranian second-tier) and finally secured promotion to the Pro League for the first time ever in 2019. The club’s first season in the top-flight was a rocky one as they languished in the relegation zone for the majority of the season. It wouldn’t be until a late resurgence in form in the last 5 games of the season that the club would steer clear from relegation trouble and register a 10th place finish in their maiden Pro league campaign. Now, akin to English club Leicester City’s charge to the Premier League title in 2016, GolGohar are aiming to defy all odds and make the monumental jump toward winning Iran’s premier club competition. Considering that Leiceister City won their title at 5000/1 odds, the nature of a GolGahor title challenge would present a very intriguing prospect for even the least ardent football fan. If it did come down to you taking a punt on the club’s chances at doing the unthinkable I would highly recommend the expertise over at www.wetttippsheute.net for some excellent tips .
GolGohar’s early season charge has been led by Nigerian striker Godwin Mensha who has bagged a league-high 6 goals - impressively accounting for 67% of the club’s goal tally. The recently signed Nigerian forward has done well to alleviate the goalscoring burden of one of the least prolific sides in the Pro League last season. At the other end, captainMehranGolzari has stewarded the defence well in spite of a more attacking approach this term. Off the pitch, the team’s form has been buoyed by the recent appointment of manager Amir Ghalenoei. The Tehran-born coach is the most successful coach in Persian Pro League history with a record 5 league titles, won with Esteghlal and Sepahan, respectively. Ghalenoei has also won 2 Hazfi Cup titles and boasts an incredible track record of transforming struggling clubs into respectable sides capable of challenging for silverware. For instance, when he took over Esteghlal in 2003 in his second spell with the club, they were languishing in midtable mediocrity. By the time he left the club in 2006 he had returned the Tehran big boys to the summit of Iranian football. With a very impressive CV preceding coach Ghalenoei, an exciting crop of players, and the privilege of underdog billing, GolGohar will be looking favourably at the prospect of challenging for a first ever top-flight league title.
For all of GolGohar’s ambitions this season, the Persian Gulf Pro League has still been the playground of Iranian football’s traditional giants in recent years. Reigning champions Persepolis have won the last four league titles and will definitely be looking to make it 5 in a row this year. The Scorpions also face stiff competition from Foolad and last season’s runners up Esteghlal, with the former last winning the Pro League in 2014 and the latter in 2013. Regardless of how GolGohar’s season shapes up, they’ll be motivated by the other awe-inspiring underdog stories in world football.