"Baku Cup": Tournament dedicated to the development of children's football

The aim of holding the "Baku Cup", dedicated to the memory of Anatoli Banishevski with the joint organization of "Neftchi" and Russian club "Dinamo" (Moscow), is to increase the development of children's football.

Islam Karimov, coordinator of the Baku representative for lower age groups, told "Report".

He reminded that the tournament is dedicated to the memory of Anatoli Banishevski, the legendary striker of Azerbaijani football:

"This year is the 80th anniversary of Anatoli Banishevski. Today is the 89th anniversary of the creation of "Neftchi". We intended to organize an international tournament with the aim of increasing the development of children's football. It was decided to implement it in Baku and dedicate it to the memory of Anatoli Banishevski. This was initiated by the "Neftchi" club. 5 teams from abroad will participate in the competition. Aleksandr Kuznetsov, the son of Yuri Kuznetsov, who was the head coach of "Neftchi" before, is bringing Moscow "Dinamo" to our country."

I.Karimov said that former "Neftchi" football players, veteran players who played in Russia and performed with Banishevski were invited to the final game of the "Baku Cup":

"These are Kazbek Tuaev, Iskandar Javadov, Mashallah Ahmadov, Oktay Abdullayev, Asif Aliyev, Asim Khudiyev, Vladislav Gadirov, Tarlan Ahmadov, Arif Asadov, Nazim Suleymanov and Vali Gasimov. We plan to organize the tournament at a high level. Our guests will visit the grave of Anatoli Banishevski. We will create conditions for all participants to watch the "Neftchi" - "Imishli" game from the stands. Also, since it is Novruz holiday, we will introduce them to our customs and traditions."

It should be reminded that the tournament, which will be organized among football players born in 2015 and younger, will be held on March 19-21 at the "Palms Sports" Football Center.

"Neftchi" will compete with "Dinamo (Voronezh, Russia), "Göztepe" (Turkey) and "Qarabağ" in Group B. In Group A, "Dinamo" (Moscow), "Besiktas" (Turkey), "Kayrat" (Kazakhstan) and "Ulduz" teams are placed. "Neftchi" will face "Dinamo" (Voronezh) and "Qarabağ" on March 19, and "Göztepe" on March 20.

According to the regulations, on March 20, the winner of Group A will face the runner-up of Group B, and the winner of Group B will face the runner-up of Group A. Teams that take 3rd and 4th places in the groups will also play games based on the same principle.

On the last day of the tournament - March 21, games for 7th, 5th and 3rd places, as well as the final match will be held. After the decisive match, an award ceremony will be organized. All matches of the "Baku Cup" international tournament will be broadcast live on "Neftchi" TV.