Sohrabi honored as top scorer in Tajikistan Championship

Persianfootball.com – DUSHANBE, January 10, 2014, Hyatt Regency Hotel was the venue for the third consecutive year, hosting Football Federation Tajikistan’s gala ceremony for the 2013 season. Iranian national Hossein Sohrabi became the first foreign top goal scorer in Tajikistan.

As reported by the official website of Football Federation Tajikistan, the ceremony began at 2pm Dushanbe local time, hosted by famous football commentator Ali Sharifov. It was attended by heads and officials of Football Federation Tajikistan, team prize-winners last season, team managers, coaches, referees, Tajik football veterans, sponsors, journalists, as well as numerous other guests. At the event there was also a performance by one of Tajikistan’s young singers Mehrinigori Rustam.

Hossein Sohrabi(Istiqlol Dushanbe) with 11 goals was awarded as best goal scorer of the 2013 season. According to the official website of Istiqlol Football Club, Seven goals he scored for Khayr Vahdat where he played until mid-season break. In Tajikistan Championship he played only seven games for Istiqlol Dushanbe where he scored 4 goals, spending a total of 544 minutes on the field. In addition, the Istiqlol footballer scored 5 goals in the Cup of Tajikistan.
Unfortunately, he was unable to attend the ceremony and his award was accepted on his behalf by Dushanbe’s press attache Rustam Khakimov. Sohrabi’s club captain and team mate, Dilshod Vosiev who had scored one goal less than him was awarded as Tajikistan Football Player of the year for the second consecutive year.

The 32 year old is the third Iranian to have become a top goal scorer in a league outside Iran. Previously only two other Iranians had managed to do that, Farshad Pious(Al Ahli, Doha) with 9 goals at 1988-89 season Qatar League and Ali Karimi(Al Ahli) with 15 goals at 2003-04 season UAE League.

This is a remarkable achievement, for a footballer who has never played in any of Iran’s top tier leagues such as Persian Gulf Cup(Pro League) or Azadegan League(First League).
Possibly a hidden gem who had never met the right agent. He mostly had played in local leagues in Mazandaran(a province that was once home to the now extinct Caspian Tiger) and Khorasan province. Although he had experienced a few seasons in Iran’s Second and Third Division.

In late 2012, he had finally experienced playing in a top tier league when joined Khayr Vahdat in Tajik League. It must be noted that the two nations of Iran and Tajikistan, share language and culture. Farsi and Tajik are both dialects of the Persian language. For Sohrabi who might be considered foreign by nationality, however perhaps he feels at home in Tajikistan.
Iranian football community would like to congratulate Sohrabi on his award.

Hossein Sohrabi’s profile:

DOB: 1 March 1981
Hometown: Bishekola(a rural district of Mahmoudabad), Mazandaran province
Height: 185cm, Weight: 78 Kg
Position: Striker
Current club: Istiqlol Dushanbe(Tajikistan).
Previous clubs: Naft Mahmoudabad, Kowsar Tehran, Sanaye Talayi Semnan, Pas Mashhad, Khazar Mahmoudabad, Darya Mahmoudabad(formerly Naft), Bishekola, Khayr Vahdat(Tajikistan)
Managerial: Player/Head Coach Bishekola Football Club for a period of 3 years.

Award winners for 2013 season Tajikistan:

Best Goalkeeper – Alisher Tuychiyev (Istiqlol Dushanbe).
Best Defender – Hasan Rustamov (Ravshan Kulob).
Best Midfielder – Khurshed Mahmoodov (Regar-TadAz Tursunzoda).
Best Striker – Mirzobek Mirzoev (Khayr Vahdat)
Top Scorer – Hossein Sohrabi [Iran] (Khayr Vahdat & Istiqlol Dushanbe) – 11 goals.
Best Coach – Rustam Khodzhaev (Khair Vahdat).
Best Referee – Rahmon Murtazoev (Dushanbe).
Best Coach Children – Safar Rakhmonov (RSHVSM).
Best Futsal Player – Mirali Sharipov (National Bank).
Best Female Football Player – Madina Fozilova (Lastochka).
Best Player Children(born in 2000-2001) – Aslan Kamolov (Istiqlol Football Academy).
Best Junior Player(born in 1998-1999) – Vahdat Hanon (RSHVSM).
Best Player Boys(born in 1996-1997) – Alisher Safarov (RSHVSM).
Best Foreign Footballer of Tajikistan Championship – David Mawutor [Ghana] (Ravshan Kulob).
Best Footballer Abroad – Farhad Vosiev (Gasovik Orenburg, Russia).
Footballer of the year 2013 – Dilshod Vosiev (Istiqlol Dushanbe).