Rafael Bunyatov: "We have already started taking steps to get rid of failure"

ASTA (Azerbaijan Sport Talents Academy) President Rafael Bunyatov gave an interview. Sport24.az reports that he announced the plans regarding "Mingachevir", the representative of the Azerbaijan I League, with whom they will sign a sponsorship agreement today. R. Bunyatov spoke about the steps they will take to develop the regional club.

- Are there any special reasons for choosing the "Mingachevir" club?

- As you know, President Ilham Aliyev attaches great importance to the socio-economic development of the regions, as well as to the special attention and care to various sports in the administrative regions. Mingachevir is one of our cities with football traditions. The path of the best football players of Azerbaijan once passed through this city. Taking into account the attitude of the people in the city towards football and football traditions, we made our choice on "Mingachevir".

- Were there other options, or have you only focused on the "Mingachevir" option from the first day?

- Of course, there were other options. However, after appropriate consultations with the Football Development Fund, our choice was the "Mingachevir" club, which plays in the I League. Our main goal is to further strengthen the team's existing potential, and in a short period of time, to form a team that plays competitive football in the domestic championship for now and meets modern requirements.

- What changes are planned regarding the infrastructure?

- Yes, changes are planned regarding the infrastructure. Radical changes must be implemented and the team's material and technical base must be strengthened. Because modern football demands it. We are currently in the documentation and design phase. A club without a strong financial base cannot develop. From this point of view, necessary infrastructure changes must be made initially and the club's existing base must be improved. Necessary steps are being taken in the mentioned direction, and the sports community will soon be familiar with the results.

- What will be the short-term and long-term goals of the "Mingachevir" club?

- As I mentioned, our short-term goals include the rapid reorganization of the club in organizational terms, strengthening its material and technical base and staff, and bringing it to a level where it can compete for the top places in the I League. As for long-term goals, of course, playing in the Azerbaijan Premier League would be the greatest success for us.

- "Mingachevir" is currently last in the Azerbaijan I League. What steps will you take to get rid of failure?

- Yes, the team is currently last in the I League. But the point difference to get out of there is not big. Considering the number of games ahead of us, that is, 16 rounds left until the end of the season, we have great confidence that we will stay in the I League. We have already started taking steps to get rid of failure. We have a renewed technical staff, and the process of attracting new players has begun. The mood in the team is very high. You will see a very different "Mingachevir" in the upcoming games.

- If not this year, will the maximum goal for the next season be to win a ticket to the Premier League?

- Our goal for the next season is not to win a ticket to the Premier League. But I can say that "Mingachevir" will be very ambitious next season.

- There have been reports in the press that Fuzuli Mammadov, the former head coach of "Neftchi", will be appointed to the position of head coach. What can you say about this?

- Yes, that's right, our head coach is Fuzuli Mammadov. We considered several options for the head coach and chose Fuzuli Mammadov as the specialist who best suits our goals. We have great confidence in Fuzuli muallim. We are satisfied with his training process and his relationship with the players. Hopefully, he will be with us for a long time.

- Is it planned to entrust the team to a more well-known local or foreign specialist in the future?

- First of all, I must note that Fuzuli muallim is a well-known specialist. As for a foreign specialist, I can answer your question in this way for now: it is possible that there will be foreign coaches in the team's technical staff at some point. But that foreign coach may be in the technical staff as an assistant to Fuzuli Mammadov or any other Azerbaijani coach.