Takhti Stadium in Ardabil, usually home to local league matches, became the stage for an extraordinary event. Fans from across the province filled the stands not just to see a football match, but to witness their hometown hero Ali Daei return to the pitch in a symbolic role. Daei, once the pride of Ardabil and Iran on the global football stage, captained the Namavaran Ardabil team, composed of a mix of local talents and former players.
On the opposite side stood the team of sports media professionals, including journalists, TV hosts, and analysts. At the heart of this team was Adel Ferdowsipour, the iconic presenter of Iran’s most popular football program Navad (90), whose voice and analysis had accompanied countless fans during two decades of football broadcasting.
The match was played with an atmosphere of joy and solidarity. Spectators cheered as though it were a major tournament final, yet everyone knew the deeper purpose of the evening: to raise awareness and funds for the humanitarian cause of helping Malian prisoners.
