FAILED TRANSFERS

There is no sportsman who does not dream of proudly representing his nation abroad.  In football, in contrast to other sports, this can be done as a foreign player, too - by pulling on a foreign club's shirt.  Unfortunately, only three Azerbaijani footballers are playing in foreign leagues today:  Mahir Sukurov, who plays for the Anzhi football club in Russia's premier league, Rasad Sadiqov, who wears the colours of Eskisehirspor in the Turkish Super League, and Ilqar Qurbanov who found consolation in the Turkish First Division.

Every year during the transfer period, it appears that Russian and Turkish clubs are showing an interest in Azerbaijani players.  But they never manage to negotiate a deal.  For example, Neftci footballer Farid Quliyev chose Azerbaijan's leading club ahead of Turkish clubs.  Farhad Valiyev, Kamran Agayev and a number of other footballers also decided not to play abroad, for different reasons.

Azerbaijani football knows the names of players who proved themselves abroad.  Vali Qasimov, for example, has gone down in the history of Russian, Spanish and Portuguese football.  Nazim Suleymanov played successfully for Russia's Alaniya.  Qurban Qurbanov, Samir Aliyev, Kamal Quliyev and others also played in the Russian and Ukrainian leagues.  Mahir Sukurov himself agreed to play for Anzhi, despite the competition and not too high a salary.  Today Mahir is a true star of the Makhachkala club.  He is always in the starting line-up and his performances show that his professional level has also improved.  The same can be said of Rasad Sadiqov.  After signing a two-year contract with the Turkish club Eskisehirspor, Rasad proved from the very outset that the management had not bought in vain.

At the same time, many active Azerbaijani footballers are not attracted by offers from abroad for some reason. This is despite the fact that by playing there, they would achieve many goals:  first, they would acquire the experience they might need in the national team; second, by improving their professional level, they can attract the attention of stronger clubs; and finally, let us say this again, it is a good opportunity to represent their country.

True, there are arguments against playing abroad.  Nonetheless, the fact remains:  Azerbaijani footballers are not interested in sporting careers abroad.  And the reason is simple:  why bother, if they can earn the same money at home?

There are a number of other reasons why many footballers refuse to accept transfer offers.  First, they fear the competition there and do not want to spend their time on the substitutes' bench.  Second, as we have already mentioned, in contrast to the Azerbaijani premier league, our footballers are unlikely to be paid great salaries abroad.  Third, many of them do not speak any foreign languages other than Russian.  Four, the training in foreign clubs is more demanding than in Azerbaijan and not everyone can endure extreme physical exertion.  And finally, there is the elementary problem of the mindset:  Azerbaijanis find it difficult to be away from their families and loved ones.

Many people might accuse us of bias.  However, the facts support what we say.  To prove this, let us discuss the reasons for the failure of some transfers:

-The year 2008. Xazar-Lankaran's goalkeeper, Kamran Agayev, was not transferred to Dinamo Kiev.  First, Kamran was not to be the first-choice goalkeeper, but a substitute.  In other words, he would have to compete with the Kiev club's first team goalkeeper.  Second, the Kiev club did not offer Agayev better pay than he was getting with Xazar-Lenkaran.

-The year 2009.  Neftci player Farid Quliyev rejected a move to the Turkish First Division.  A club from the fraternal country offered him a 150,000-euro annual contract.  Farid said that he did not want to part with his family.  Today, he spends most of his time on the substitutes' bench.

-The year 2010.  Qarabag goalkeeper Farhad Valiyev also declined to play in the Turkish First Division.  The reason was unsuitable financial terms.  Farhad did not want to play in Turkey for the same salary he was getting in Azerbaijan.

-The year 2010.  Vaqif Cavadov was signed by the Dutch football club Twente, but he was never given a chance to play in the starting line-up.  The Azerbaijani forward refused to stay on the bench and chose to sign a contract with the Baki football club.

It has to be said that the refusal of Azerbaijani footballers to play abroad and, accordingly, better themselves as professionals, is most damaging to the national team.  Although they should not, of course, accept offers merely for the sake of playing abroad.  It is important for the footballer to make the right choice.

At present, the transfer of a young Neftci player, Araz Abdullayev, to the British club Everton is under discussion. Neftci representatives say that the transfer can already be considered a done deal.  But the British state that they need to think it over.  At any rate, Araz's transfer would not be a bad advertisement for Azerbaijani football.  But let us not jump the gun.