The university team was much more convenient for me as I was already there and most players were my own age. In spite of the lack of regular competition, Vatankhah ran a very disciplined practice and expected maximum effort from us. We mainly played against other universities although during my time with the team we did play once against a first division team, Bonyad Shahid, that ended in a 2-2 tie.

Most of the team had played with each other for some time and knew each other well while I was trying to fit in with them. One day while in the locker room after practice one of the players announced that someone had passed away and that he was collecting money for their wake. He jokingly added that he would not let anyone leave before collecting 100 tomans from them. Once I changed I approached the player and handed him a 100-toman bill.

“No, no,” he said. “You don’t have to. You didn’t know the guy.”

I insisted that he take it as it would be going to a good cause and he finally reluctantly accepted it and thanked me.

Most of the players remained unknown to the general student population although Farid once told me of one of our players who also played club soccer for Tejarat Bank. His name was Ali Daei.