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 assessing the friendly matches played by the national team against 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 only have one or two experienced players, the rest are young. After the Brazilian futsal players left and were not allowed back, and no new legionnaires came to replace them, we are mainly continuing with local youth. For this reason, the middle generation has almost disappeared," he said in a statement to AZERTAC.
The specialist noted that in previous periods, Azerbaijani futsal players could not gain enough game experience, so today young people come directly to the main national team:
"During Joze Alesio's time, local football 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 with teams like Denmark are always difficult. We lost the match at home and won the match away. 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 do the right work in children's schools, we can train more conscious and qualified players in a few years. Support from sponsors is also important for this. Children's schools should be opened in the regions. Currently, we are calling mainly children playing in Baku to the national team. Because the championship is actually like the Baku championship. There are almost no teams in other regions."
The coach for selection also touched upon the situation in the national championship:
"Neftchi has become a bit stronger, good legionnaires have been brought in, and Azerbaijani youth have also been involved. They are currently fighting for the championship. They won one of the matches against Araz-Nakhchivan and lost the other. There are currently 7-8 legionnaires in the Nakhchivan club, and the rest are young Azerbaijani players, approximately 20 years old. Among the goalkeepers are experienced Rovshan Huseynli and Emin Kurdov. But unfortunately, other games are uninteresting because the competition is weak."
It should be noted that in the match against the Danish national team on January 22, the opponent won 4:1, and in the match that took place two days later, the Azerbaijani national team won 4:2.
