IN SPITE of having priced himself out of the Bafana Bafana job earlier this year, Carlos Queiroz will still be returning to South Africa this year, bringing his Iran side to train in the country for a second time in 12 months.

Iran used Johannesburg for a full month of training in the first half of the year, originally scheduled to go to Mbombela but eventually ending up in Johannesburg where they worked out at health clubs and played friendlies against local sides.

They intend to do the same again in December as they prepare for the Asian Cup in Australia.

Iran have found it hard to get opponents, as Queiroz explained during the World Cup in Brazil, because of the political sanctions against the country.

While most of the countries that participated at the World Cup had a full programme of preparatory matches, Iran played only Guinea at home in March and Belarus, Montenegro and Angola in May.

Their bid to get tougher warm-up games against stronger Western nations were stymied by the sanctions as most countries refused to take them on.

At the World Cup, Iran held Nigeria to a draw but lost to Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Brazil. But their performances were such that Queiroz was asked to sign a new contract, even after announcing his desire to leave when Iran's participation in the tournament finished.

The coach is hoping now to arrange a friendly against South Africa in December, presumably also as part of Bafana Bafana's preparations for the African Nations Cup in Morocco if South Africa qualifies and if the tournament goes ahead.

Iran are due to play Zimbabwe in Johannesburg on December 19.