ADVICE FROM AN ELDER

One of the innovations in Azerbaijani football has been the setting up of a coaching committee by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA). The national team's former coach, Vaqif Sadiqov, has been appointed the chairman of the committee consisting of Sakir Qaribov, Agasalim Mircavadov, Boyukaga Haciyev and Sahin Diniyev.

The committee will monitor the combined teams of Azerbaijan in all age groups, and also the clubs taking part in the country's championship. It will report any problems in football to the AFFA management and help to resolve them. This naturally means that the members of the Coaching Committee will have to have regular meetings with their counterparts and also frequent contacts with AFFA officials. Regionplus asked Vaqif Sadiqov, the Coaching Committee's chairman, to tell us about the work being done by the organisation headed by him.

-The Coaching Committee members not only keep track of our clubs' training sessions in Antalya, but also attend the training sessions of the youth teams. Are you still happy with their training sessions?

- Our business trip to Turkey was useful. We observed the matches and training sessions of our clubs, and what is most important, of the youth teams and we had discussions with the head coaches. At the meetings there the trust in our committee could be felt, as well as the expectation of specific steps being taken for the good of Azerbaijani football. Our aim is to mobilise all the resources and do everything possible to achieve that.

We had interesting meetings in Antalya. We also met the U-17 and U-16 coaches. We shared with the players the hopes that are being placed in them. They will therefore have to work on themselves diligently, to develop themselves and bring benefit to our football. These processes are extremely important. It is very pleasing that the clubs listen to us, and our meetings take place in an atmosphere of mutual understanding. We shall definitely reap the fruits of our current efforts in the future. The main thing is that the coaches should be happy with the training sessions. We do not interfere in their affairs and restrict ourselves to observing them.

- What does the Coaching Committee think of the clubs' training sessions in the second half of the championship?

-If we are talking about the development of Azerbaijani football, we primarily need to pay attention to the clubs, to begin with them. Our clubs should show that they are keen to enter the country's championship, to fight for the top places, and also to make their mark in the Europa cups. If we take a close look at the present situation, we can see that the clubs are training to a professional standard. What they are doing today, will soon yield good results. By restoring a club-team system, combining their interests, we shall achieve development. A member of the Coaching Committee, Boyukaga Haciyev, is monitoring the clubs that are training in Baku. We have also been to Antalya. I can say that all our clubs are enjoying preparing for the championship and looking forward to it. I think we shall see some very interesting matches.

- In the clubs, attention is focussed on players from the national squad. What impression did they make in the play-offs and control games?

- I won't say a lot about that since we had the team's head coach with us who kept track of the games and training sessions with his assistants. If need be, we can make some recommendations. I can only say that the members of the team showed their best side. The presence of [manager Robert] Prosinecki in Antalya meant that the players had to try even harder still. They were aware that the national squad's head coach notices everything.

-Were there any players who particularly attracted your attention?

- I don't want to name anyone specifically but there are players like that. Prosinecki and his assistants are keeping an attentive eye on all the players.

- You said that you had meetings with the clubs and teams. What proposals are being drawn up for the AFFA management?

- We need a certain amount of time to systematize them and present them in the form of a project. We are currently drawing up a big project of a recommendatory nature. We shall submit our proposals to the AFFA management, among them proposals on limiting the number of players from foreign teams coming in, on the championship regulations and other issues. For the moment I do not wish to reveal our plans to the media.

- Do you agree with the view that the current championship is not really up to scratch?

- We are discussing this issue at the Coaching Committee sessions. The main thing is to explain the reasons for this phenomenon. We shall only try and find ways of resolving this issue later on. The Araz Naxcivan club's elimination from the championship before time and the clubs' changing strategy as the championship went on helped to create these problems. The work being conducted in the clubs is extremely important for Azerbaijani football. I think that, in clarifying the regulations regarding players from foreign teams and setting a limit on them in the future, we should establish definite frameworks for the clubs and improve the professional standards in this effort. In the future this will have an impact on our national team. At the present time, I cannot say definitely why the standard of our championship has gone down. We need to make a serious analysis of everything and eliminate the existing failures.

- The difference in the clubs' standards has increased for inexplicable reasons.

- I agree with you there. This year Qarabag, Inter and Neftci are playing much better than the other teams, distinguishing themselves in their game. It can be said that these teams have already ensured themselves a trip to the Europa League. This means that there is no competition at the championship. There cannot be development without competition. I think that the problems not only lie in the system, but in the management of our clubs. Besides this, the changes in the limit [on players from foreign teams] have not justified themselves. But the most important thing is that today we have spotted the problems and are trying to eliminate them.

- You often meet Robert Prosinecki, the national team's head coach. What do you think about him?

- It is good that Prosinecki and I are constantly in contact. We discuss all the problems. He himself has stated that we should work together to achieve development. We have suggested that Prosinecki and I meet minimum once a month. He has stated that he himself is largely in need of these meetings. He suggested that we meet every week. Prosinecki is a new face in Azerbaijani football. He is not familiar with our football. For the moment my impressions of his work ethic are positive ones. He spends most of his time in Azerbaijan and keeps track of all the matches.

Besides this, we had meetings with coaches of the teams of the differing age groups. We exchanged opinions with the chairman of the Clubs' Committee, Tuygun Nadirov. During these meeting the impression was created that they believe in us and are waiting for advice from us. I think that the AFFA's decision to set up this committee is a step in the right direction. The federation is currently implementing a considerable number of projects. Professionals should be in charge of monitoring them. The committee has not been set up to reveal someone's bad points.

On the contrary, our work is aimed at providing support. We are trying to inject something new into our football. During the meeting we told Prosinecki that our aim should be the same, namely for Azerbaijani football to make its mark in the European arena as soon as possible. If we take into account that the European Championship games are to be held in Baku in 2020, then why shouldn't our national team take part in that tournament? In other words, we are boosting our activity, proceeding from this goal. I believe that we shall reap the fruits of our efforts in the future.

- Does this mean that the Coaching Committee will help Prosinecki in his work with the national team?

- We do not interfere in anyone else's business. Simply, if need be, we shall put forward some recommendations of our own. Prosinecki himself states that he needs the meetings with us. He has won our sympathy through his active approach right from the start. He was watching the Championship of Azerbaijan games even before he was appointed to his post. Once he was appointed head coach, he did not go back to his own country, but remained in Azerbaijan and began to familiarise himself with the youth teams' leagues.

So, he demonstrated his desire to work. It should be taken into account that Prosinecki himself needs success. Each of us should strive to support him, in order to work together with him to achieve progress in our football. The head coach bears the responsibility for any outcome. But I would like us all to work together in these hard times and not turn away from the national team. This is the only way that we will be able to achieve success. This is just like we backed Qarabag during the Europa League matches.

- Have you submitted proposals in connection with the team's upcoming friendly games?

- Prosinecki will only manage to spend 10 days with the national squad before March, which is very little time. To begin with, he has to gather facts. Two games are planned in February. Perhaps the team will play against the clubs. Our new head coach is trying to get to know our national team better before the official game with the team from Malta. At the current play-off stage, Prosinecki should learn more about our football and inject a fighting spirit into the team.