Sepaphan named May's AFC Team of the Month

AFC - SEPAPHAN have been named the Coca-Cola AFC Team of the Month for May after the Isfahan club secured the 2002/03 Iran Pro League with three games left to play, the first time in Persian football history that the title has been won by a team from outside Tehran.

Meanwhile, Qatari forward Mohammed Ghulam has been named the AFC Player of the Month for his crucial goals in Al Sadd's Emir's Cup-winning campaign, while the Coach of the Month prize goes to Sharjah's Juma Rabea, who led the UAE side to their eighth President's Cup title.

Sepahan began the month by travelling to Tehran and playing a hard-fought goalless draw with two-time Iranian champions Saipa, before hammering local rivals Zobe Ahan 4-0 in the Isfahan derby.

Farhad Kazemi's side then wrote a new chapter in Iranian football history by drawing 1-1 away with defending champions Pirouzi, earning the point that ensured they couldn't be caught in the title race. The new champions finished the month undefeated with a 1-0 win over Esteghlal Ahvaz.

Ghulam earned his AFC Player of the Month award for his pivotal role in Sadd's win over Al Ahli in the final of the Emir's Cup, which earned them a place in the next AFC Champions League.

Teammate Sergio had weighed in with seven goals as Sadd saw off Wakrah in the third round and Al Etehad in the two-leg semi-final, but it was Ghulam's double in the 2-1 win over Al Ahli that saw the Doha side claim the trophy for the 11th time.

The Qatar international, who had also scored a brace in the semi-final second leg earlier in the month, opened the scoring in the final after 34 minutes, converting a low cross from Ivory Coast striker Abdulkader Keita.

Ghulam, who also scored in Sadd's 2-0 victory over Etehad in the Heir Apparent's Cup final in April, doubled Sadd's advantage 18 minutes into the second half when he bravely latched on to a through ball from Morocco international Youseff Chippo. However, it marked Ghulam's last contribution as he had to be taken off following his collision with Ahli goalkeeper Murtada Talib.

Juma Rabea earns the AFC Coach of the Month award after Sharjah saw off league winners and AFC Champions League semi-finalists Al Ain, last season's President's Cup victors Al Ahli and league and Super Cup runners-up Al Wahda to claim the UAE's most prestigious Cup. Brazilian Anderson de Carr scored either side of a Mohammed Rashed strike in the quarter-final as Sharjah ended Ain's hopes of a domestic treble, before