"NOW IT WILL BE DIFFERENT"

Last month, the name of the new head coach of the Azerbaijani national Greco-Roman wrestling team became known. Following the resignation of Salih Bora, management of the national team was entrusted to the Iranian specialist Jamshid Heyrabadi. By tradition, the Wrestling Federation of Azerbaijan introduced the new coach to reporters. Nevertheless, without confining ourselves to a short press conference, we asked the Iranian expert to answer a number of questions of interest to us in an exclusive interview with R+.

Before moving on to our conversation with him, we should report the major changes that occurred in the training of the national team with the arrival of the new coach. If earlier the team spent only 3-4 practices per week, now there are as many as two per day. Along with increasing the intensity of practices, the Iranian specialist also increased the daily physical load. Our observations of practices of classical wrestlers under the new coach show that serious qualitative changes really expect the team. Here is what Heyrabadi told us on this issue.

- You seem to have changed the course of training?

- I've always worked this way. Every coach has his own programme. I was told that the Greco-Roman wrestlers train 3-4 times a week. But now it will be different. I've already presented my plan to the federation and they've accepted it. The national team will practice twice a day.

- Don't you think that after such intense and hard practices, the athletes will be tired and won't be able to show their full force at competitions?

- Training is not exhausting. You just have to get used to it. In the first few months, it may be difficult, but then everything will fall into place. If we want to win European and World Championships, we are obliged to overcome difficulties. Athletes who overcome them in training avoid anxiety in competitions. Although training is held daily, the programme varies. The athletes who wrestled today will work with sports equipment tomorrow. One day of the week they will be doing just swimming. In other words, practices are different.

 - But our results have been good before despite the fact that there were only 3-4 practices per week. I guess you know about that?

- Azerbaijan has always had a strong wrestling school. The Wrestling Federation of Azerbaijan has created perfect conditions for national teams. I know about your high achievements in various competitions. My arrival in the team is connected with my desire to make the results even better. I've always tried to ensure that the team with which I work achieves high results. I will do everything I can to ensure that the Azerbaijani team is the best in the world. At the World Championships and Olympics, we will fight only for the gold medal.

- They say that eight assistants have come to Baku with you?

- That's right. But they are not assistants. Simply, we will be working with the team as coaches. Among them are a doctor and a specialist in physical training. If we aim for good results, we have to work at a professional level.

- In any case, eight experts have never worked with the national team at the same time...

- It's common practice in the world. Among the top teams in Europe, there are teams where the number of coaches is even higher. Some even have one or two coaches who are engaged exclusively in analyzing competitors. I must say that we need some time. But there will be results very soon.

- Are changes expected in the national team?

- Not at the next competition. It's impossible - there's too little time. But I'll try to check all to be aware of the capabilities of each. Then we will begin to search for new recruits. I want to increase competition in the national team. There will be changes, but not so soon.

- In Greco-Roman wrestling, there have always been few legionaries. Do you plan to invite wrestlers from abroad?

- In light weight classes, there's no problem. In heavy weight classes, foreign players are very likely to be invited. We've talked about this at the federation. We plan to invite very strong athletes to have the strongest wrestlers in all weight categories.

- Iranian wrestlers are one of the strongest in the world. Can you apply in our team the programme with which you worked in the Iranian national team?

- The Iranian wrestling school is one of the strongest, and perhaps the strongest in the world. This is the result of hard work. An athlete practices for hours there, if necessary. In the Iranian national team, I worked under Mohammadi Panah. After years of hard work, the Iranian national team became a favourite of major competitions. The experience gained will enable me to achieve success in your team. God willing, when we raise new champions, you will understand why I expose the athletes to so much exercise.

- You communicate with the team through an interpreter. The language barrier makes it impossible to establish direct contact between the coach and the team, and sometimes there are problems. Are you not worried about it?

- Coaches sometimes use the services of interpreters all over the world. In communicating with the team, coach Ja'fari Nizafetdust helps me. He's, first of all, a coach and then an interpreter. He knows his business to the subtleties. There's no need to explain any term to him. So I believe in the success of our work. Each of the assistants invited by me to your country is a professional in his field. There can be no question of any problems relating to communication.

- How else can you substantiate your confidence that you will be successful with the national team of Azerbaijan?

- First of all, I believe in myself. Second, along with the excellent conditions created by the federation, athletes also have a sense of responsibility. We will work as a team and achieve success. I've always worked hard for success regardless of the place of work. The future of the Azerbaijani national team seems wonderful to me. And we need your support - the support of journalists. You, too, can contribute to the development of the sport. The media have a big impact.