Idman.biz
"Currently, our futsal is weaker compared to teams like Denmark. Our youth are talented, they just need time."
These words were said by Agatahir Azimov, the coach for selection at the Azerbaijan Futsal Federation, while evaluating the national team's friendly games with the Danish national team and the current state of the team.
He stated that the situation in the national team is currently a bit difficult.
"Our team mainly consists of young players. We have only one or two experienced players, and the rest are young people. After the Brazilian futsal players left and were not allowed to return, and no new legionnaires came to replace them, we are mainly continuing our journey with local youth. For this reason, the middle generation has practically disappeared," he said in an interview with AZERTAC.
The specialist noted that in previous periods, Azerbaijani futsal players could not gain enough playing experience, so today young people come directly to the main national team:
"During Jose Alesio's time, local players played little and could not develop. Now, children coming from U-19 are directly involved in the main national team. They are talented, but still very young and inexperienced. The potential is quite strong, but this process is not easy. Especially games against teams like Denmark are always difficult. We lost the match at home and won the away match. Compared to teams like Denmark, our futsal is currently weak, and it will be very difficult to face stronger opponents in future games."
Agatahir Azimov emphasized the role of children's football schools for the development of futsal: "If we work correctly in children's schools, we can train more conscious and quality players in a few years. Sponsorship support is also important for this. Children's schools should be opened in the regions. Currently, we are calling players who mainly play in Baku to the national team. Because the championship is practically like the Baku championship. There are practically no teams in other regions."
The selection coach also touched upon the situation in the national championship:
"Neftchi" has become a little stronger, good legionnaires have been brought in, and Azerbaijani youth have also been involved. They are currently competing for the championship. They won one of the matches they played against "Araz-Nakhchivan" and lost the other. There are currently 7-8 legionnaires in the Nakhchivan club, and the rest are young Azerbaijani players, about 20 years old. Among the goalkeepers, there are experienced Rovshan Huseynli and Emin Kurdov. But unfortunately, the other games are uninteresting because the competition is weak."
It should be noted that in the match against the Danish national team held on January 22, the opponent won 4:1, and in the match held two days later, the Azerbaijani team won 4:2.
