A LIFE DEDICATED TO FOOTBALL

On February 24, Igor Ponomarev—the only Olympic champion in the history of Azerbaijani football—celebrated his 65th birthday. A football veteran and coach, Olympic champion of 1988, and honoured Master of Sports of the USSR (1989), Ponomarev has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Sabah FC since 2018.

A former midfielder who spent most of his career at Neftchi, he was part of the Soviet Union’s youth team and a member of the squad that won gold at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. After retiring from playing, Ponomarev worked as a coach at clubs including Swedish Syrianska, Russian Mashuk-KMV, as well as Garabagh and Khazar Lankaran. From 2000 to 2001, he served as head coach of the Azerbaijani national football team.

The editorial team of Region plus asked Igor Ponomarev several questions, focusing on his current dedication to Sabah FC. The interview began by discussing his recent birthday.

"Igor Anatolyevich, how do you feel now as a former footballer?"

"I feel very happy. People with achievements in Azerbaijan are not forgotten. Just before my birthday, my accomplishments as a footballer were once again remembered. I received many congratulations. Friends from different countries called to congratulate me. Through you, I want to express my gratitude to everyone. I celebrated my 65th birthday with friends. I believe we are still young and must continue to serve our football."

"Some say people live their second youth. At what age do you feel you are?"

"I feel rested and young. Although I no longer have the stamina to play 90 minutes, I could still compete for 80 minutes on the field (laughs)."

"As a member of the Supervisory Board, how do you assess Sabah FC’s results?"

"Sabah provides excellent conditions for players and coaching staff. That is why we must strive for the highest results. This season, our main hope is the Azerbaijan Cup. By beating Neftchi in the first match, we increased our chances of reaching the final. In my opinion, we have an opportunity to finish the season successfully. Overall, the club pays great attention to youth teams. The academy focuses on training children. We hope to see Sabah’s graduates representing various Azerbaijani national teams soon."

"As a former head coach, how do you explain the national team’s poor performance?"

"This topic could be discussed endlessly. I don’t know what is currently happening inside the team; one needs to be with them to understand. I feel sorry that the national team is in this state. Not only I but all veteran players regret this after every match. After all, the national football team is the face of the country. Although clubs perform better in European competitions, the situation with the national team has not improved for many years. Therefore, I believe the problem runs deeper. Youth football, scouting in regions, and other programmes must be properly implemented. Despite unsatisfactory results, support for the national team must continue. The worst part is that home matches attract very few fans to the stadium. Of course, this is partly the team’s responsibility—people are reluctant to attend after repeated defeats."

"There is an opinion that clubs are also responsible for the national team’s poor play. Do you agree?"

"Clubs recruit players aged 22 and older. How much can they develop after that age? They come mostly as formed players. These players now compete in our Premier League and still lose matches. Let’s look at youth football from which they came: Did they win youth championships? What was the quality of their play back then? The problem must be analysed comprehensively."

"Neftchi, where you played, is also going through difficult times and even faces elimination from European competitions this season..."

"Since I currently work at Sabah FC, my words may be misunderstood. However, I can say that as the oldest football club in the country, Neftchi should always fight for top positions."

"If Iskander Javadov, Mashallah Ahmadov and Igor Ponomarev—who once showed top-class football—were on the field now, could they help the national team?"

"The heart of each of those players beats for the national team. They love football passionately. Being among the best in their time, they brought joy to fans through victories. The current situation is somewhat different, so comparing eras is difficult. Times have changed, and football has developed significantly. Training methods have radically evolved. Nevertheless, I believe these players would still stand out positively if they played today."

"Currently, Portuguese coach Fernando Santos leads the national team. In your opinion, should a local or foreign coach manage the team?"

"Whatever brings greater benefits should be employed. Discussions about local versus foreign coaches depend on each team’s specifics. Numerous teams worldwide have achieved success under foreign coaches. But those teams include many world-class players on the field. Our national team lacks competition; during qualifications, almost the same names are repeatedly called up. The main problem lies not with the coach, so changing him does not resolve underlying issues."