BULGARIAN GRIP

Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation (AWF) has appointed a new chief coach for the country's freestyle  wrestling team. This post remained vacant after Saypulla Absaidov stepped down because of the national team's unsuccessful performance at the latest Europe championship where his freestyle  wrestlers won two bronze medals.

The new coach is Semen Shterev is a Bulgarian specialist who previously acted as an assistant to the national team's coach. A contract has been concluded with the Bulgarian specialist for one year with the option to extend it for another year. S.Shterev, the new chief coach of Azerbaijan's national freestyle  wrestling team, has given an interview to R+. He spoke about the Azeri wrestlers' potential and tasks facing the country's number one team.  

- Your appointment came somewhat unexpectedly. Or maybe you knew that you were being considered as a candidate?

- The decision was taken very quickly. I was invited to Azerbaijan as an auxiliary coach. I worked in that capacity for five months. A few days ago the federation announced its wish to see me in the post of the chief coach. I accepted the offer. Each coach dreams about running the main team. This is why I instantly gave my consent.  

- Were there any other offers?

- You may not believe it but yes, there were. I pondered them over and chose Azerbaijan.

- Yet this decision may prove to be risky. The AWF demands achieving maximum result at each competition.

- I accepted the offer which means that I have faith in myself. It's a poor soldier that never wants to become a general. The freestyle  wrestlers won one gold medal at the World Championship. Someone might take this result as success but it does not suit Azerbaijan. People expect a greater success here.

- Are you familiar with the team members? What can you aim at with this line-up?

- The Azerbaijani team has a high potential but we must work hard. There is high competition within the national team. It is necessary to train hard to win more medals.  

- Is it difficult for a Bulgarian coach to live in Baku?

- It is unnecessary to repeat that Baku is a beautiful city. It is common knowledge how your capital has changed. The high beautiful buildings are a pleasure to the eye. It is easy for me to live and work here. The beauty of the seafront park just fascinates me. Baku is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. For some reason, it resembles Madrid to me.

- What attracted you in the federation's offer?

- In Azerbaijan people have great respect for professionals and effective work. Every specialist wishes to be respected and trusted. The AWF offer reflected these points and this is why I accepted it.

- Perhaps the financial terms were acceptable, too…

- The financial aspect is the last thing that interests coaches. It is the result that matters. If there is no result, there'll be nothing. The national team is currently preparing for the last competitions of this year. Then a new season will start. We are thinking about raising the wrestlers' physical training standards.

- As a rule, a new coach drafts new athletes into their team. Yet people in Azerbaijan prefer their own, local ones…

- Nobody spoke about drafting legionaries into the national team. Some media wrote about that but, believe me, those were baseless allegations. There is no such issue on the agenda.

- Are you planning to bring your family to Baku?

- We go on trips every month. We have a team practice session, then competitions, then training again. So I don't think of moving my family to Baku. I get in touch with my folks over Skype every day.

- Probably you know that wrestling enjoys special popularity here?

- I know that wrestling is among favourite sports in Azerbaijan. This is why your athletes always perform with confidence at big competitions. Wrestling is a national sport here. There are many young people going in for wrestling in your country. As regards choosing a coach, the federation first gathers required information on a candidate: who he is and where he worked… Perhaps it was so in my case, too.

- What could you say about the current status of wrestling in Azerbaijan? 

- Wrestling has always ranked among major sports in Azerbaijan. Wrestlers from your country have permanently been among odds-on favourites at big competitions. Wrestling remains very popular today. This sport is practiced in every corner of the country. This is confirmed by the London Games where wrestlers from Azerbaijan won two gold medals. The athletes' potential is great. There are many young and promising wrestlers. It is only natural that problems occur in some weight categories. No team can boast equally strong line-up in all the categories. Azerbaijan has always had and will have a strong wrestling school because wrestling is a national sport here and love for it is handed down from one generation to another.