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Suhail Chandhok, CEO of U Mumba, has revealed the team’s response to acquiring Iranian attacker Alireza Mirazeian. During the Pro Kabaddi 2023 Auction, U Mumba signed the raider for the sum of 16.10 lakh. The U Mumba management anticipated that he would command a somewhat greater fee, but they were able to retain his services for only 16.10 lakh.

U Mumba, the Season 2 champion, put a lot of effort towards improving their raiders following last season’s underwhelming performance.

Following the Pro Kabaddi 2023 Auction, U Mumba CEO Suhail Chandhok spoke exclusively with Sportskeeda about the team’s plan and expressed how excited they were to have two young Iranian raiders in the shape of Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh and Alireza Mirzaein.

The two Iranian raiders were coveted by U Mumba’s coach Gholamreza Mazandrani. However, Suhail Chandhok believed that they wouldn’t be able to sign Mirzaein shortly after spending 68 lakh rupees on Zafardanesh.

Suhail Chandhok explains how U Mumba acquired Alireza Mirzaein at a low price

Suhail Chandhok said, “The funny thing was when I asked coach Gholamreza about the ideal Iran combination he wants for the auction, he gave me three names. He said the top combination I want is Zafar and Alireaza and I don’t think we’ll get them because look Zafardanesh unfortunately went and did good things at the Asian Games. So he has been noticed.”

According to Suhail Chandhok, Alireza Mirzaein’s injury prevented teams from seeing much of him during the Asian Games. It ultimately enabled U Mumba to acquire him at a low price

He added, “The better thing is the fact actually Alireza is a better individual raider than Zafardanesh but thankfully for us at Mumba, he had a slight niggle at the Asian Games. So for me to get Alireza at 16.1 (lakh), I mean we couldn’t believe it.”

Suhail concluded by saying that, “I sent a message to coach and he said, ‘Please get him’. I said, ‘No no we got him.’ He is over the moon. We can’t be happier because Alireza is his prodigy.”