Salehnia often reminisced about the field in the military zone near the current army apartments—complete with two mulberry trees that served as makeshift changing rooms and a well that served as their shower. One legendary game saw Anzali defeat Rasht 11-1, with Salehnia’s brother Javad scoring seven goals.
1969: A Year of Transformation
The year 1969 proved to be a turning point. The Anzali schools team had just secured top positions in major national tournaments, winning in Babol and placing runner-up in Mashhad. Recognizing the depth of local talent, Salehnia became determined to establish a formal club. Working with football enthusiasts and military officials, including Karim Rastegar (then Navy captain) and Captain Arianpour (commander of the Anzali Navy base), he secured permission to form a team. Thus, the Anzali Navy Football Team was born—a precursor to the club later known as Malavan.
In their inaugural match, the team defeated Give Anzali 2–1. Players like Ghafour Jahani, Nosrat Irandoost, and Soltanzadi emerged as key figures, many of whom would go on to become national icons. The Navy team rapidly gained prominence, winning the Gilan Province championship and advancing to the national regional tournaments.