Japan, Iran, S. Korea awarded

Japan, Iran, S. Korea awarded

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): The Asian Football Confederation named a Japanese club team of the month, a South Korean coach of the month and an Iranian the Asian Player of the Month.

Japan's Jubilo Iwata was named the best team for August by the confederation, whose headquarters are in Kuala Lumpur.

A statement by the AFC said Jubilo was the only team to have kept up with defending champions Kashima Antlers and be level on points at the top of the table.

Jubilo has been able to do this although Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had left the team and former Italian World Cup star Salvatore Schillachi was about to leave the team.

Iran's Ali Daei, who recently joined Arminia Bielefeld to play in the Bundesliga, was the best player for August.

The statement said the lanky striker has made an immediate impact on the German soccer scene, "with two goals in the first four games of one of the toughest leagues in Europe to further his claim as Asia's number one hitman".

Coach of the month was Kim Ho, the man in charge of South Korea's league team Suwon Bluewings.

It was Kim's guidance that played a major role in Suwon's race to the top of the Korean league, the statement said.

The awards are given monthly by a panel of sports writers, soccer officials and others.