Iran

Iranian player tops the scoring chart in Belgian league

By Niloufar Momeni 

Making his first stint ever in a European league. Debut season, unfamiliar with the French language at his host country, a whole set of training sessions all too foreign for an Asian player.

Hence, not much was expected from Iranian Kaveh Rezaei upon his transfer to Belgian side Sporting Charleroi from Esteghlal last Summer.

Fast forward to present time and the 25-year-old has already made his name known in Belgian league: Printed in bold letters.

Although facing tough competition as centre-forward from his teammates Mamadou Fall and David Pollet, Kaveh Rezaei quickly leapfrogged both as Charleroi’s best attacking option in the games.

Having 15 games under his belt so far, Kaveh has scored 7 goals or 28 percent share of his team’s tally of goals. With seven goals, Kaveh Rezaei is now Charleroi’s top scorer and Belgian top division’s third highest scorer.

The story does not end there as he has also provided five assists to his teammates, which also places him as Belgian league’s top four assist providers so far.

Kaveh Rezaei’s fascinating progress in his new team in his debut season has also caught the eyes of Iran national team head coach ahead of World Cup 2018 games.

After a long absence from Iran squad, upon his great performances in Belgium, he was once again called up to the National team for Iran’s friendly games against Panama, Russia, and Togo.

Considering Iranian team’s main striker, Sardar Azmoun currently suffers goal-draught, Carlos Queiroz must have seen an effective plan B in Kaveh Rezaei at upcoming World Cup games. Or who knows, maybe he becomes Plan A for Iran in Russia, ahead of the well-developed Sardar Azmoun?

So far though, he is Sporting Charleroi’s Plan A and one of the best goalscorer in Belgium. Kaveh Rezaei only needs to prove that he can repeat his great performances at international levels too.