A DISASTROUS TOURNAMENT

Our women's national volleyball team, which left for the European Championships in Dresden with such high hopes, has suffered the biggest failure in its history. Faiq Qarayev's girls, who qualified for the championship for the fifth year running, went out of the competition without a single point, losing all three matches. After defeats to Croatia (0-3), Russia (0-3) and winning only one set against Belarus (1-3), Azerbaijan set up a sort of anti-record and finished in 15th place, with only Spain below them.

The defeat in the first match against Croatia caused frustration among both the fans and the coaches. Faiq Qarayev, annoyed by the size of the defeat, handed over control of the team to his assistant Aleksandr Chervyakov. But he could do nothing to alter the course of events, either. In their next matches Azerbaijan lose 1-3 to Belarus and 0-3 to Russia.

The captain, Natalya Mammadova, appeared "star-struck" and played well below her potential. This naturalized foreigner, who plays for the Russian side "Omichka", has shown by her poor efforts in the Azerbaijani national side that she is completely apathetic, although she is reckoned to be one of Russia's top women volleyball players. Natalya Skazka-Mammadova has clearly forgotten how she reached such a level. Volleyball fans still recall Natalya who was invited to Azerbaijan by Faiq Qarayev ten years ago. At that time, at one of the "Azerreil" club's press conferences, a journalist criticised Natalya, calling her Skazka [Fairytale]. But Qarayev said she must be given time. Under his guidance the young Ukrainian girl quickly reached European standard. After she had taken Azerbaijani citizenship she changed her name from Skazka to Mammadova. At that time, having turned down invitations from leading European clubs, the naturalized foreigner became the main "weapon" of the Azerbaijani national side and "Azerreil". However, Qarayev let Mammadova go to another club. She played for clubs in Russia, Turkey, Italy, Sweden and Spain. She was often called the best volleyballer or the best attacker in the most prestigious club tournament, the Champions League. Now Natalya is refusing to play for Azerbaijan because next year she will be 30. In other words, the team doesn't need her any more but she is one of the most famous sportswomen in Europe.

After stating in an interview in the Russian press of her intention to end her career in the Azerbaijani national side, Mammadova had a row with Qarayev in Dresden. It was after this scandal that the chief coach refused to lead the national side in the subsequent group tournament.

Of course, an important reason for the fiasco in the national side was the fact that the top players in the team did not justify the hopes in them and the younger players were insufficiently prepared. It cannot be denied that the chief coach Faiq Qarayev is also to blame for this failure. In any event, responsibility for the outcome lies with him.

Qarayev has served Azerbaijani volleyball with distinction for nearly 40 years, first as a player, and since 1986 as coach. Enjoying great respect, the charismatic Qarayev has brought many victories to Azerbaijan. He worked for several years in Turkey and came back at the invitation of the head of state and President of the Azerbaijani National Olympic Committee Ilham Aliyev. After success with "Azerreil", Qarayev then led the Azerbaijani national team which reached the European championships time after time. As the years passed more and more was expected of him. But the recent process of a change of generations has complicated the situation and the volleyballers who have taken the place of stars like Shabovte, Hasanova and Gorxmaz have so far not been successful.

Although in recent years large sums of money have been spent on the development of volleyball in Azerbaijan, the serious problem of the limit on foreign players remains unresolved. Only a couple of Azerbaijanis play for the clubs who achieved success in Europe. In an interview for R+ in March, Qarayev agreed that not enough attention is given to local girls in the clubs, and said he was sure that a limit on foreign players in the championship would soon be imposed.

The national side lost all its matches in the European championships but Faiq Qarayev's decision to hand the team over to his assistant after the first defeat was a wrong one. The chief coach should have done something to prevent the fiasco. If, in fact, Qarayev had problems with his health, he should have said so straightaway. But it was only after the championship that the Azerbaijani Volleyball Federation said that serious problems had arisen regarding the chief coach's health and because of that he could not run the team any more. It is possible that stents may have to be placed in the heart of Faiq Qarayev who is continuing to undergo treatment in Germany. If this is the case the calls for his resignation which many people are making would not be right.

When he returns to Baku Qarayev may decide to quit his post, but he won't be the one making this decision. Let's not forget that Qarayev is not one of those coaches whom we asked to resign after every bad defeat. He is an expert who knows the right decision to make at the right time. For the moment let us wish Qarayev a speedy recovery.