"TITLES HAVE NO RELEVANCE"

A development that took place in the Azerbaijani national judo team earlier this year was most unexpected. The contract with head coach Peter Seisenbacher of Austria, under whose management the team won a gold and a bronze medal at the 2013 World Championship, was not renewed. Being unable to resolve financial issues with Seisenbacher, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation has decided to commit the national team to the trust of a local specialist, Haciaga Haciahmadov. He had been in charge of the country's youth judo team for a long time and also served as an assistant head coach under Aqayar Axundzada. Having put much effort in the training of promising judokas, Haciahmadov will now be responsible for the results of the national team until the end of the year. The new coach told R+ about the training plan for the team and certain details about his appointment. 

- Congratulations on your appointment! This was somewhat unexpected...

- There may be scores of unexpected decisions in life. After Seisenbacher has left the team, the Federation offered me the position of the head coach. After negotiations, I agreed and we started to work.

- Will it be difficult to work with the national team after Seisenbacher?

- A foreign coach was appointed to the national team after the London Olympics. He managed to establish discipline and created a new method of training. Every coach has his own system. Therefore, the system of training will be changed once again. It is always difficult to work with the national team. Great results can only be achieved with support from others.

- You have worked with the youth team and know all promising judokas. Are we to expect changes in the national team?

- There are many promising youths in Azerbaijan. At the moment, I cannot say anything about the condition of the national team's leading athletes. Everything will become clear in the course of trainings with them. In principle, young sportsmen always undergo training together with the main team. And young judokas who have proved themselves are included in the main squad.

- In what competitions will the national team participate in the near future?

- Late in March, we will take part in the Turkish and Georgian Grand Prix. It is now being decided who will go to these competitions. After that, we will go to Montpellier to compete at the European Championship. And early in May, judo wrestlers will participate in the tournament of the Grand Slam series in Baku.

- With the beginning of summer tournaments, athletes will be vying for licences. Will the national team be able to get into optimal shape by that time?

- Our priorities are the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and the first European Games in 2015. Therefore, as of this summer, we will participate in licensing tournaments. The objective is to obtain as many licences as possible.

- A couch is usually at the centre of attention and takes a lot of criticism. It is rather difficult to work in such circumstances, isn't it?

- We always attract attention. Fans and mass media expect us to attain good results in all competitions. We always want to win too. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Meanwhile, we are always ready to face criticism because healthy criticism promotes improvement.

- How do you assess the condition of world champion Elxan Mammadov?

- Mammadov has been undergoing a rehabilitation course for a few months after the World Championship. Now he trains again and tries to restore his shape, which can be assessed after tournaments. Mammadov's participation in the European Games and the Olympics in Brazil depends on him alone. We believe in him.

- Will we see a new Elnur Mammadli [champion of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games] in the national team?

- Elnur Mammadli has left a mark in the history of sport in Azerbaijan. Such athletes emerge once in a decade. Of course, the coaching staff tries to prepare new athletes at the level of Mammadli. This takes time. However, we must recognize that such talented judo wrestlers as Mammadli are not to be found very often.

- As the new head coach, what changes are you going to implement so that to ensure the successful performance of the national team?

- There is no need to make any changes in the team. For me, discipline is of paramount importance. Each athlete must follow the rules adopted in the national team. It is impossible to be successful without discipline. I have told the guys right at the first training session that all of them are equal to me. Titles have no relevance. The main thing is their attitude to training and discipline. One cannot rely on the previous success in sports. One must work hard to achieve new heights.

- Elxan Mammadov won a gold medal and Orxan Safarov won a bronze medal at the World Championship last year. Will it be possible to emulate this result?

- I understand that if we do not emulate this result, we will be exposed to a squall of criticism. We are working in this direction but it is too early to make any predictions. Recently, a training camp was started under my management. It takes time before I can tell something about the condition of the national team. Every coach wants his athlete to become the world champion. Thus, we long for victories as much as you do. 

- You had for a long time been working as the head coach of the youth team and as an assistant coach of the national team. What do you think, has your newest appointment come too late or just in time?

- All events happen in their proper time. I would not like to speak much about my appointment. We are all working for the good of Azerbaijani sport.